News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Electric Superbike Twente, a Dutch developer of electric motorcycles, recently teamed up with local AM company K3D to develop one of the first metal 3D printed components for the racing industry. The part in question is an electric motor cooling shell for the company’s second generation Superbike.
We began reviewing 3D printers when the market thought these hardware products could truly appeal to a wide consumer demographic. That proved not to be the case, as 3D printers proved too costly and too hard to operate for most people, including the author of this piece. While the hype (fortunately) is not as high as it used to be, our Ortur 4 review shows that 3D printers are now truly within everyone reach and that anyone can use them, including the author of this piece (who does cover the global AM industry as a journalist and analyst but can be considered a consumer when it comes to actually 3D printing).
Fuller Moto is a leading automotive and motorcycle design and customization shop that inspires, educates and entertains those with a creative spirit and a do-it-yourself attitude. The Atlanta, Georgia-based company doesn’t just customize bikes but also educates and works with gear-heads, enthusiasts and hands-on builders. It is lead and inspired by Bryan Fuller, who is also a master builder, designer as well as a TV personality and author of how-to-build books through his own publishing company, Full-Bore Publishing. The latest project to emerge from this ideal company is the Fuller Moto 2029, a perfect blend of the how latest manufacturing technologies such as metal 3D printing can be used together with traditional metal craft.
German automaker Audi has announced it will be expanding the use of polymer 3D printing in its production lines. The technology will be leveraged to produce custom designed auxiliary tools on demand. As part of the expansion, Audi will be establishing a separate department to oversee the integration of polymer AM at its Neckarsulm site.
The days of the ubiquitous cup trophies could be limited. Austrian steel technology company voestalpine AG will be awarding the winner of the “voestalpine European Races” with a one-of-a-kind 3D printed trophy. The race series, sponsored by the company, is part of the second half of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.
The NextGenerationSpaceframe 2.0 project by Siemens and EDAG was presented today at Hannover Messe and is set to significantly streamline the integration of modular AM elements in automotive production via digital twin. Last year at Hannover Messe (where Siemens plays at home), the German giant had presented a number of key application cases for automotive manufacturing and beyond, including a very fascinating one with Bugatti.
Well if this isn’t just the cutest thing I’ve seen all month: French car manufacturer Bugatti has re-invented a half-scale model of the Bugatti Type 35 race car that was originally created in 1926 as a birthday gift for Ettore Bugatti’s four-year-old son. A 3D printed design model of the appropriately named Bugatti Baby II was recently presented at the Geneva International Motor Show.
A team from the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia has successfully demonstrated the ability to 3D print a replacement lug directly on an automotive headlight assembly. The achievement was carried out through the university’s Repairbot project.
It’s been a tough week for the Energica Motor Company and the rest of the MotoE community, after a fire at a paddock at the Circuito de Jerez in Spain on March 14th destroyed the majority of the motorcycles and equipment inside.
In the intersecting worlds of automotive and additive manufacturing, French luxury carmaker Bugatti and metal 3D printing company SLM Solutions can be considered something of a dream team. The two companies have been working together since as early as 2014 to redesign and optimize vehicle components using additive manufacturing. In fact, Bugatti has become an important example of how metal 3D printing can accelerate industrial development in the automotive industry.