On December 12, 2018, the tool manufacturing department of German automaker Volkswagen just announced that the company opened an advanced 3D printing center at its production plant in Wolfsburg, which can produce complex automotive parts and will use "The most advanced generation of 3D printers" developed in cooperation with HP.
Dr. Andreas Tostmann, Volkswagen Brand Production Director, commented at the opening ceremony: "The 3D printing center takes Volkswagen's additive manufacturing activities to a new level."
"In two to three years, 3D printing will also be interesting for parts production. In the future, we can use 3D printers for vehicle production directly on the production line."
The 3D printer developed in collaboration with HP is based on an adhesive spray process, which complements previous selective laser melting (SLM) processes. Compared with other metal 3D printing solutions, HP's adhesive spray makes metal 3D printing easier and faster. In this method, parts are manufactured using metal powder and a binder applied in layers. The printed metal part is then "baked" during the sintering process.
Volkswagen is currently using the technology for customizable components such as personalized key rings and external nameplates. Volkswagen's multi-year plan is to use HP's adhesive spray to produce functional parts with higher performance that meets structural requirements.
Volkswagen's 3D printing center covers an area of 3,100 square meters. A team of planners and researchers is now working on developing new products and processes. Within the framework of the future agreement, a new additive manufacturing unit was established, providing 11 future-oriented jobs.
At the opening ceremony, Oliver Pohl, head of additive manufacturing, commented, "Here, we have created an innovation center that is of great strategic importance to Volkswagen in the future."
Working Committee member Susanne Preuk said, "The completion of the 3D Printing Center underscores the importance of the Innovation Fund II, which makes such investments possible. The Working Committee welcomes companies to open up new technologies and shape them in a future-oriented manner to meet employees Interests."
According to Antarctic Bear, Volkswagen is not the only car company to open a 3D printing manufacturing center. Antarctic Bear has reported that Ford Motor has spent $ 45 million to establish an advanced manufacturing center in Redford town, Michigan, west of Detroit. The Advanced Manufacturing Center has 23 3D printers and cooperates with 10 additive manufacturing companies. The center is testing 3D printers from Stratasys, Hewlett-Packard, EOS and other suppliers to adapt to car manufacturing. This allows Ford experts to develop applications for different materials-from sand to nylon powder to carbon. According to the company, an application currently under development has the potential to save the company more than $ 2 million.
Ford has 3D printed parts in its manufacture and production. Ford said the Shelby Mustang GT500, which will be launched at the North American International Auto Show in January next year, will be equipped with two 3D printed brake parts. The F-150 Raptor fighter made for China will include a 3D printed internal part.
The BMW Group has been using 3D printing for more than 25 years and has used the technology to produce one million parts in the past decade. This year alone, it is expected to 3D print more than 200,000 components, a 42% increase over last year. BMW is also actively seeking additive manufacturing, with the intention of maintaining a leading position in the automotive industry where the technology is rapidly being adopted.
The BMW Group's 1 millionth 3D printed component recently appeared in the form of a 3D printed window guide for the BMW i8 Roadster. Development took only five days and quickly integrated into mass production. The guide rails are located on the doors of the Roadster, allowing the windows to run smoothly. It is manufactured using HP's Multi Jet Fusion technology, which is currently used for the first time in series production of automobiles. This technology can produce up to 100 window guides in 24 hours. In addition, BMW uses EOS selective laser sintering and various other metal and polymer technologies.
The window guide is not the only 3D printed component in the BMW i8 Roadster-in fact it is not even the first. The first is a fixture for a soft top attachment, which is 3D printed from an aluminum alloy. It is lighter and stiffer than traditional injection molded plastic parts. This year it won the Altair Enlighten award in the module category.
In addition, many automobile factories are already using 3D printing technology, and let us see the prospect of 3D printing technology in automobile manufacturing.