Let the car be unique and talk about how far the 3D printing car is.
Do you remember the Strati at the 2014 International Manufacturing Technology Show? As the world's first 3D printing car, Strati was a big eye at the time. When people think that this is just the model of the good guys, the US Local Motors company that introduced this concept car has revealed that it will officially sell 3D printing cars in 2016, and many of the information has nose and eyes, 75% of the whole car. The components are printed in 3D and are powered by pure electric power, starting at $53,000...
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This news can't help but remind people of Tesla that year. Isn't it also big in the world that "pure electric is still early?" Does this mean that 3D printing cars are not far from us?
â— At this stage, 3D printing "complete vehicle" has little practical significance.
3D printing technology is no longer mysterious. Its biggest advantage is that it can be quickly formed - based on the digital model in the computer, the digital model is cashed into a physical component by means of a bondable material by layer-by-layer spraying (printing). In theory, the car is also composed of "physical components", which can be realized by 3D printing. However, the reality is not as simple as "theoretical".
Cars are different from ordinary "pieces." As a high-speed vehicle, it has special requirements for the strength of many components. From the principle of 3D printing, it is not difficult to see that the parts that are "printed" out of conventional materials are difficult to meet such strength requirements. For example, the body, the need to use different strengths of steel in different parts, but also a strict mechanical dispersion design, coupled with the welding process and other forests, is a very particular system engineering. Also like hanging parts, can 3D printing parts be eaten?
Perhaps at this point you will use Strati to refute - its body is printed in 3D! Yes, but you look at Strati's design speed - it will definitely fall into the "old scooter" category in China. Can't get a license without getting a subsidy... Strati designed it so slowly? Obviously not because of power, the key problem is still on the body material - faster, the body can not afford.
There is also a process, really close to see Strati, do you think it is very delicate? Performance, safety, and craftsmanship are similar to an "old scooter", but then it is sold for $53,000 (the equivalent of the BMW X5 in North America)... Obviously this car seems to be mass-produced at this stage, essentially still Flowing in the concept, there is no comparability with the original Tesla.
In this case, why is Local Motors eager to launch a 3D printing car? In addition to trying to "get the top spot", more and more will probably create momentum for the entire 3D printing industry. Such a complicated car can be "printed", and it is even more important in dealing with other fields.
â—Future 3D printing is also unlikely to become the dominant player in the automotive industry
The previous emphasis on "current stage", does that mean that 3D printing can be used to make a complete vehicle in the future? In theory, this is the case. The strength of 3D printing is not a bottleneck that cannot be broken - as long as the printed material is good enough, it can also be "very strong". If you use titanium alloy to "print the car", even the local tyrant will feel overwhelmed because the cost is too Taller. But this can be changed. With advances in materials technology, it is entirely possible to develop materials suitable for "printing cars" in an acceptable cost range in the future.
Even at that point, 3D printing is not likely to dominate the automotive industry. Why? This can be compared to our most common "printing" and "printing". Printing is much later than printing, and it is comparable in quality to printing. But why are books, newspapers, and magazines sold on the market printed rather than printed? The difference is in batches - printing is more suitable. Doing a single piece or a small amount, printing is suitable for batches, and their functions are essentially different. The situation of 3D printing and mass production is actually the same. In this case, as a mass-produced car, even in the distant future, it is unlikely that 3D printing will dominate.
â— The personalized value of 3D printing cannot be underestimated
Looking at the tone of the front, we seem to be denying the 3D printing car? In fact, 3D printing will bring a subversive change to the automotive manufacturing industry, and the value must not be underestimated.
Where are the benefits of 3D printing cars compared to traditional manufacturing models? Is it as fast as Local Motors advertises? Strati claims that all parts can be printed in just 44 hours and then assembled in just 4 days. And according to their vision, they can strive to do less than 20 hours by improving the technology, and be confident that they can be completed in less than an hour in the future. Even so, if it is just for production, this kind of fast does not have much advantage with the existing vehicle assembly line - Ford, a hundred years ago, it can be 12 hours a day...
Where is the value? Very simple: personalization. If you want to have a unique car in the world, if you follow the traditional model, from design drawings, modeling, sample cars, testing, tuning, to the whole vehicle, it is impossible for a few years, and the cost is also It will be so high that the world's richest man is screaming. With 3D printing, it's completely different - you can design according to your individual needs, then "print" it out, and get it in a few days before and after, the price is only "$53,000"... Compared to the traditional way, it is simply a fantasy.
Is there such a demand? Of course, there are many. Not only in the ordinary civilian field, but also in the professional field (such as the entertainment industry, the racing world, etc.).
We don't have to stick to the whole car for this kind of personalization. We can imagine that the body frame, suspension, and powertrain are still in the traditional mode to ensure performance and safety, and then in the true appearance of the shape, interior cover parts, according to individual needs to "print." This is easier to achieve than "complete vehicle printing," but the effect is also subversive.
By then, the scene of “the face of the public†will no longer exist, and the car will be as colorful as fashion. Not only that, for the user, the shape of a car may not be the same. In a few years, I want to change the image to "play" a version. Compared with the current selection or modification, does the latter feel weak?
â— 3D printing is more valuable to the automotive industry in R&D and design
The above is more based on the perspective of users and terminals to see 3D printing, but in fact, 3D printing for the automotive industry, the greater value lies in the R & D and design.
Anyone who knows the design of the vehicle knows that an important link is called the “sludge modelâ€. Why do you want to get such a thing? Because even if the computer display technology is advanced, the actual effect is still incomparable with the real thing. And to create this model, just like an artist doing sculpture, it takes both time and time. Even worse, there is more than one model from design to completion. With 3D printing, this job is much simpler.
In the design and manufacture stage of the prototype, 3D printing can also be used, and all the covers may have multiple versions. If you follow the traditional process, it is also time-consuming and laborious. For example, is the interior surrounded by a good or a flying wing? Is the screen good or good below? With 3D printing, several versions are tested in minutes. This difference in feeling is just like the printing and transcription in daily work. It is absolutely not the same.
Another value of the 3D printing development process is the manufacture of the mold. Why should the replacement of vehicles be separated by several years? In addition to the inherent design cycle, there is another important reason for the mold - the update of the whole set of molds is quite time-consuming, laborious, costly, and nothing can be replaced. With 3D printing, it all becomes SO EASY. As a result, the speed of vehicle renewal will be greatly improved, and the derivative models of the same platform will become more and more.
In fact, all non-batch links can be completed with 3D printing to greatly simplify the process and increase efficiency and success rate. For example, the concept car, not only saves time through 3D printing, but also can release more versions at the same time to obtain market feedback and improve the success rate of the final production version. There are also modified markets, special car repair market, etc., 3D printing also has its place.
Conclusion: The value of 3D printing compared to traditional batch manufacturing is similar to that of flat printing – all single, personalized things are the strengths of the former, and mass production is still the latter. At the same time, there is no separation and substitution between them, and there will be more complementarity.
The value of 3D printing in R&D and design, as well as the value of individualized options and modifications in the entire vehicle, must not be underestimated. Combined with the traditional manufacturing model, it is entirely possible to subvert the perception of traditional cars in a relatively short period of time - the richness of the models, the speed of renewal and the personalization of the styling will exceed people's imagination. .
In our opinion, how far the 3D printing of the whole vehicle is from us has become less important. What we should see is the value of 3D printing for future car manufacturing and the upcoming changes, isn't it?
(Editor)
Sofa Pillow,Household Pillow,Embroidery Pillow,Customized Pillow
Wuyi County Yunshuo Industry and Trade Co., Ltd. , https://www.yunshuotent.com