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StarLight presents World's first 3D printed car!
Yes, this is no hoax ... Local Motors will write history with this amazing project.
The name of the car is the Local Motors Strati, which I will interpret as a streetcar.
As we all know, the most cars are made of 20.000 parts but this car we built with only 40 parts ... that's really amazing, I wonder the price of it?
Look for yourself and stay tuned.
PD can't deny such a futuristic technology and worlds first 3D printed car.
History will be made when the world’s first 3D-printed car drives out of McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. During the six-day IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show 2014, the vehicle will be printed over 44 hours then rapidly assembled by a team led by Local Motors with the historic first drive set to take place the morning of Saturday, September 13.
Called the Strati, the vehicle will be 3D printed in one piece using direct digital manufacturing, (DDM), which is the first time this method has been used to make a car. Mechanical components, like battery, motor, wiring, and suspension are sourced from a variety of suppliers, including Renault’s Twizy, a line of electric powered city cars.
By Local Motors
The winning concept, Strati, created by Michele Anoé of Italy, will highly inspire the full-size 3D printed prototype. "It’s simple and clean, with character," says challenge judge and MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis. "It has a nice style that really hangs together." Lonnie Love, Group Leader, Robotics and Manufacturing Systems Research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, adds, "Michele’s design offers an excellent balance between innovation, complexity and practicality. It has good 3D lines and the retractable roof is really cool."
Michele will receive a $5,000 cash award for his submission and will be invited to see his concept manufactured live in AMT’s Emerging Technology Center, Booth N-650, at the IMTS Show this September.
"There are three major challenges facing the auto industry today; part count, weight, and the initial cost of tooling when creating and iterating on vehicles. The hybrid Direct Digital Manufacturing process stands to address all three of these," said Jay Rogers, Local Motors CEO. "When these hurdles are removed, we open the door to an exciting new era in automotive design and manufacturing possibilities."
Six additional concepts were recognized for their innovation and popularity among the members of Local Motors’ global community. Some aspects of these designs may also be incorporated into the final prototype. The designers of each of these concepts will receive a $1,000 cash award from Local Motors.
Internal Strut Frame
A favorite from the beginning, Internal Strut Frame has an innovative design that uses vertical struts to support the upper surfaces, saving weight and making a sturdy frame/ body. This concept was selected as the “community favorite” by members of Local Motors’ global community.
Aeroblade
Also employing an innovative use of vertical structures to support external surfaces, catering to the inability of current 3D printing process to bridge horizontal gaps, this multi-layer design was described as "very futuristic" by judge Douglas K. Woods, President, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. "This design really has the ‘wow’ factor, like something Batman or the Green Hornet would drive."
3DPCX
Creative structural supports – including the spine down the center – and a clean passenger compartment are defining elements of this concept. In his judges notes, Paul R. Warndorf, Vice President, Manufacturing Technology, AMT noted, "By incorporating simplicity and innovation via smart design and smart deployment of vehicle features, the 3DPCX brings the openness of the road inside the vehicle."
LM Supernova
The LM Supernova incorporates interior design elements that are not only innovative and well thought out, but highly functional and lightweight. This is a great example of using good design and engineering to create a truly innovative vehicle. According to Woods, "The Supernova looks tough and fast, like a Formula 1 racecar."
Mirage
The Mirage took an innovation award for incorporating layers to create 3D Printed 'crumple zones', which is not only unique, but also very innovative. Taking into account how the technology could be used, the Mirage concept "is a great looking car, offering some solid suggestions for what can be achieved with additive manufacturing," said Rick Neff, Manager, Market Development for Cincinnati Incorporated.
LM e-Spider
"A tribute to the minimalist in all of us, the e-Spider merges the efficiency of a smart car with the effectiveness of a desert dune buggy," said AMT’s Warndorf. The e-Spider’s roof design and windshield connections, as well as the incorporation of shielding accessories to allow for use in severe weather, showed a great combination of innovation and practicality.
About the partnership with Local Motors and this endeavor to deliver the world’s first 3D printed vehicle prototype, Peter R. Eelman, Vice President, Exhibitions & Communications, AMT had this to say, "This continues the legacy of Local Motors bringing disruptive technology to IMTS. We started this journey in 2010 when Jay Rogers appeared at AMT’s Annual Meeting, and from that, a partnership emerged to build the Rally Fighter on the show floor at IMTS 2012. We are excited to showcase the winner’s innovative design and demonstrate to the industry this new process of manufacturing a car with a substantial structure being 3D printed on-site in AMT’s Emerging Technology Center at IMTS 2014."
IMTS Partner Press Release
UPDATE 9-15
The world’s first drivable 3D printed car was finished and driven off of the showroom floor at the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago this past Saturday. The vehicle, produced by Local Motors, is called the Strati.
A team of engineers assembled the parts to make the car roadworthy from pieces printed out. The entire process took 44 hours, start to finish, and was done in front of a live crowd.
The body, seats, and major components were 3D printed in a process called direct digital manufacturing (DDM) but not every part of the car was made this way. Propulsion is still from a traditional motor, in this case an electric motor from a Renault Twizy. Other mechanical bits including wires, suspension, and the battery were also not 3D printed.
The idea behind the creation of this unique 3D vehicle is to show the viability of this kind of technology and to prove that it has a place in the automotive industry. Although this first vehicle isn’t for sale, they plan to be 3D printing cars for the public sometime in the next few months.
UPDATE 12-6
This is the Strati with a roof and in white, which gives the car a good looking.
Underneath the impression how the Strati could evaluate in the future, this looks very nice too.
Take a close look at the future, this car is not a fantasy but a real one you can drive tomorrow!
THE OTHER LOCAL MOTORS CAR IS HERE:
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