Audi 3D Printed Car Revealed; 1936 Auto Union Type C Model To Be Sold Soon!
Audi, the luxury car manufacturer has produced a 3D printed prototype sports car on Thursday.
The company has replicated a miniature version of the classic 1936 Auto Union Typ C, Grand Prix sports car using a 3D mental printing technology.
Head of Audi's Toolmaking, Professor Dr. Hubert Waltl said, "We are pushing forward with new manufacturing technologies at Audi Toolmaking and at the Volkswagen Group," a statement released during the company's press for the announcement of the 3D-printed car model.
"Together with partners in the area of research, we are constantly exploring the boundaries of new processes. One of our goals is to apply metal printers in series production," Waltl added according to Tech Times.
The 3D printed 1936 Auto Union Typ C, Grand Prix sports car is as half as the size of the original one making it exactly a 1:2 scale. The authentic version was designed by Ferdinand Porsche, who used a mid-mounted 16-cylinder engine that won him many Grand Prix victories from years 1936 to 1938, as reported in CNET.
Audi uses a metal 3D printing machine that melts metallic powder through its lasers to create the car's surfaces in eight inches cubed size. The machine is also capable in making complicated car parts and those that are impossible to make. The printing machine produces even denser parts compared to those that are made from hot forming or die casting, according to BBC.
The 3D printed car parts are individually made by the metal printer before joining it together to become a solid scale model. This innovation encourages the company to explore the metal printer's further functionalities to produce more compound parts, according to Tech Times.
As of the moment, the metal printer is only capable of building scale model car parts of 9.5 inches long by 7.9 inches wide. This technology will also help lessen the rate of metal waste and lessen the lengthy process of manufacturing complex car parts, according to CNET.
Car manufacturers like Ford and General Motors have already dwelled into making 3D printed car prototypes earlier than Audi. Recently, Local Motors have announced their plans to start producing their LM3D Swim 3D printed car into the market, according to Tech Times.
