3-D Printed Car Nears Production 93
An anonymous reader writes "An article at Wired shows just how close we are to a 3-D printed car. Jim Kor's 'Urbee 2' design is a lightweight teardrop shape with three wheels. The engine, chassis, and wheels aren't printed, of course, but much of the car is formed layer-by-layer out of ABS plastic. It takes about 2,500 hours of printer time to create the whole thing. Assembly is easier, though, since many different parts can be consolidated into just a few. 'To negotiate the inevitable obstacles presented by a potentially incredulous NHSTA and DOT, the answer is easy. "In many states and many countries, Urbee will be technically registered as a motorcycle," Kor says. It makes sense. With three wheels and a curb weight of less than 1,200 pounds, it's more motorcycle than passenger car. No matter what, the bumpers will be just as strong as their sheet-metal equivalents. "We're planning on making a matrix that will be stronger than FDM," says Kor. He admits that yes, "There is a danger in breaking one piece and have to recreate the whole thing." The safety decisions that'll determine the car's construction lie ahead. Kor and his team have been tweaking the safety by using crash simulation software, but the full spectrum of testing will have to wait for an influx of investment cash.'"
Stronger than Steel (Score:5, Insightful)
From the title of TFA: Stronger than Steel.
I doubt it.
2,500 hours to print car? (Score:5, Insightful)
That's 104 days. I don't see the economics working out.
Re:Stronger than Steel (Score:4, Insightful)
I don't. Lots of common materials are stronger than steel in either compression or tension or for a given mass. Most hit only one of those, the rare materials that get all three costs many times what steel costs and have far more complicated fabbing processes. Like this 3D printed car, which I bet costs a lot more than stamping body panels with a transfer press.
The engine, chassis, and wheels aren't printed (Score:2, Insightful)
"The engine, chassis, and wheels aren't printed, of course"
So, the bits that make it go. The bits that distinguish it as a car instead of being a small room with some uncomfortable chairs.
Anybody can stick a fucking wooden box on a car base and call it a car.
Re:2,500 hours to print car? (Score:4, Insightful)
In 1995, it took hours to download a few MBs. I don't see the digital music business ever working out, let alone videos and movie streaming.