Metal Prototyping With 3D Printing: A New Approach for Automotive Designs
You may assume that 3D printing is a technique that only produces plastic parts. However, some rapid prototyping companies are providing 3D printed metal parts. Depending on the application, this can be a game changer relative to CNC machining or other metal fabrication approaches in terms of speed, complexity, and price. Automotive Designers can Improve Prototypes with 3D Printed Metal Components Using metal for rapid prototyping in the automotive industry gives automakers more freedom when it comes to creativity as well as building a functional model that represents a production-possible part. For example, automotive lamps are made of plastic, metal, and electronic components. Incorporating all of these parts into the prototype design helps to accurately evaluate the lamp for appearance and operation as well as how easy it will be to manufacture. While a plastic component may provide an adequate substitute for evaluating how components will ultimately fit together, producing pa