Thursday, February 14, 2019
Ford 3D prints the largest metal part for the automobile
Ford Performance, the high-performance division of automaker Ford, says it has created the largest 3D printed metal part for an in-service vehicle, the "Hoonitruck" of famed driver Ken Block. The teams behind this ambitious project used GE Additive's XXL machine, the Concept Laser X LINE 2000R. It took five days to design this air intake manifold.
Last year, Bugatti presented the largest 3D printed brake caliper in titanium. It measured 41 x 21 x 13.6 cm. The manufacturer managed to reduce the weight of the final part by 40%, thus improving the vehicle's performance. The tests, revealed a few months ago, had moreover been very conclusive, demonstrating the full potential of additive manufacturing in the automotive sector.
Source : 3Dnatives