After years of development, 3D printing technology has become an indispensable part of automotive manufacturing, which is particularly prominent in Ford. Traditional molding techniques often require specialized technicians or specialized tools, and it takes weeks or even months to produce a part of the prototype. And 3D printing technology is far superior to traditional technology in speed, efficiency and cost control. When Ford began to use 3D printing technology on a regular basis, the time they waited for the prototype was greatly reduced, ranging from weeks to hours. 3D printing technology not only saves company time, but also greatly reduces the cost of prototyping, and it allows engineers to test and optimize at any time. In fact, the new Ford GT and the new Mondeo Vignale have benefited a lot from 3D printing technology. The 2017 version of the Ford GT was recently released. The designer used the 3D printing technology to make a series of prototype refinements and improvements. The car was designed as an F1-style square steering wheel. The functions of shift control and drive control. In addition, the car's upturned door is also through multiple prototype design and modification, the weight of the door is greatly reduced. The racing version of the Ford GT also adds a multi-iteration intake manifold to its EcoBoost racing engine, which will compete in next year's World Endurance Championship. For Ford's latest high-end car, Mondeo Vignale, designers use 3D printing technology to create a unique hexagon on the Internet. At the same time, through the prototype design, the designers also created a 19-inch nickel alloy wheel and a double chrome-plated exhaust pipe. In addition, 3D printing technology is utilized to varying degrees in the details of some exterior decoration. Sandro Piroddi, Head of Ford Fast Technology Europe: “3D printing technology has completely changed the way we design and develop new models. This technology has been used in the automotive industry for 25 years, and its development will bring future automotive manufacturing to another new Dimensions." In fact, both Ford's Dunton Technology Center and its Ford European headquarters in Germany have integrated 3D printed prototypes into their classic design flow. Designers make CAD models from 3D software through a series of design sketches and 2D drawings. At the same time, a full-size clay model was produced. Simultaneous implementation of both can significantly shorten Ford's evaluation of the first design time. Because the full-size clay model allows the design team to evaluate the overall line and design of the model and body, the 3D printed model provides a reference for some details. Ford's design team uses a series of 3D printed documents as a reference to determine the physical properties, quality and durability of certain components or materials. In addition, these digital files are also convenient for consumers to purchase or download 3D printed models of their best-selling models through the company's officially licensed Ford 3D store, including the new Ford GT and F-150. Raptor et al. ARC Advanced Royal Champion , https://www.arcimportcorp.com
3D printing helps Ford car manufacturing open up new dimensions