LAS VEGAS, Nov. 4, 2019—3-D printing in the automotive industry has come a long way in the past five years, and it will continue to advance and become much more applicable in the next five years, explains Fadi Abro, automotive sales executive at Stratasys.
3-D printed parts have the ability to hold up in any environment, Abro explained on Monday, but the problem right now is that it is too time consuming to keep up with the timing demands required of OEMs, explains Abro. That all may change in the future, when parts are able to be printed out quicker.
During the SEMA-week session, "3D Printing in the Automotive Industry: How it Will Benefit Your Business,” Abro discussed the different types of 3-D printing that is available and the benefits to each.
Patented FDM technology can be used for many different purposes, including concept modeling and end-use parts. Patent PolyJet is more realistic, Abro indicated; you can print in the color and material that you desire, but it's not ideal for printing parts because it does not have the longevity that FDM has. PolyJet is ideal for models, he indicate, but FDM is more durable.
'Anywhere in a factory you can find opportunities to lean out processes, save money with 3D printing," Abro says.
Right now, 3-D printed parts are mainly being used by the manufacturers, but the cost-effectiveness of 3-D printing makes it an ideal application that will eventually be applicable to shop owners.
