[Wired] 3-D Printed Car Is as Strong as Steel, Half the Weight, and Nearing Production
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Since when have Eco cars looked good?
They're talking about trying for 290mpg on ethanol here! Epic
As long as 3D printing can be sped up this could be an awesome alternative for vehicles.
Well except for the fact that all the plastic used in production of the car is probably worse for the environment than the metal counterpart.
They're talking about trying for 290mpg on ethanol here! Epic
As long as 3D printing can be sped up this could be an awesome alternative for vehicles.
Well except for the fact that all the plastic used in production of the car is probably worse for the environment than the metal counterpart.
"The whole car - which is about 10 feet long - takes about 2,500 hours."
A plastic mold like this wouldn't be expensive to commercially produce. It's made of 50 plastic pieces, so it's not any less complicated than a traditionally fabbed shell would be either. The electronics and mechanical components of the car will still have to be done with traditional methods, and of course this is where the real cost comes from. Simply put, even if the plastic shell was free it wouldn't be that much cheaper to produce a tiny "car" like this.
"it's more motorcycle than passenger car."
Indeed it is.
A plastic mold like this wouldn't be expensive to commercially produce. It's made of 50 plastic pieces, so it's not any less complicated than a traditionally fabbed shell would be either. The electronics and mechanical components of the car will still have to be done with traditional methods, and of course this is where the real cost comes from. Simply put, even if the plastic shell was free it wouldn't be that much cheaper to produce a tiny "car" like this.
"it's more motorcycle than passenger car."
Indeed it is.
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2,048 Posts
104 days to make one car...wow.
Why use a heavier diesel over a small turbocharged gas engine? That seems counterproductive.
The other thing that comes to mind is how plastic shatters instead of stretching to the point of tearing, especially in colder weather. That should make for some interesting NHSTA testing.
And the whole registering it as a motorcycle is limiting their market even further.
Neat novelty item though.
Why use a heavier diesel over a small turbocharged gas engine? That seems counterproductive.
The other thing that comes to mind is how plastic shatters instead of stretching to the point of tearing, especially in colder weather. That should make for some interesting NHSTA testing.
And the whole registering it as a motorcycle is limiting their market even further.
Neat novelty item though.
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6,227 Posts
Quote:
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While 3D printing is still slow and expensive not to mention very limited in materials it is the future. Perhaps it will take 50 year or a 100 but there will be a day when you can 3D print almost anything. It will be a god send to people in the restoration business. Need a 66' hemi intake manifold. Just print the damn thing at your local printing shop
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Hell yes I wouldOriginally Posted by guiJY
"You wouldn't download a car..."
I would if I could.![thumb.gif]()
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1,234 Posts
garbage
Quote:
This is more of a "proof of concept" where they are saying, "hey we can do this, now we just need to make the process faster and more efficient."
Looking forward to more improvements in 3D printing!
Please elaborate on your incredibly vague comment. This is not garbage at all. While it may not be practical at the moment the technology is still very young relatively and it has already come a LONG way. Given another 10-20 years this technology could have improve to the point where this is actually viable.Originally Posted by ilhe4e12345
garbage
This is more of a "proof of concept" where they are saying, "hey we can do this, now we just need to make the process faster and more efficient."
Looking forward to more improvements in 3D printing!
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321 Posts
Just stay away from Mr.Bean
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863 Posts
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Clarkson? I would embarrass this car. I'm 6'4, and extremely lanky. Getting comfortable in any car let alone that is hard enough. My legs are probably half the length of that car alone.Originally Posted by Raven.7
Jeremy Clarkson would embarrass this vehicle.
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6,489 Posts
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What about the small turbo charged diesels that aren't heavy.Originally Posted by Trogdor
104 days to make one car...wow.
Why use a heavier diesel over a small turbocharged gas engine? That seems counterproductive.
The other thing that comes to mind is how plastic shatters instead of stretching to the point of tearing, especially in colder weather. That should make for some interesting NHSTA testing.
And the whole registering it as a motorcycle is limiting their market even further.
Neat novelty item though.
How would this be legal if your not allowed to use Carbon Fiber? I though Carbon Fiber was significant stronger than this and very light as well.
Also, its so impractical... And imagine getting into a head on collision with an SUV. Insta death for the guy in this little thing... a nice jump for the SUV? lol
I dunno... seems more like a project where "we did it cause we can!" Perhaps, like a lot of impractical ideas, parts of the idea can be used to improve practical designs. So I guess at least its a "fresh" idea and innovating to a degree. Which we need more of.
Also, its so impractical... And imagine getting into a head on collision with an SUV. Insta death for the guy in this little thing... a nice jump for the SUV? lol
I dunno... seems more like a project where "we did it cause we can!" Perhaps, like a lot of impractical ideas, parts of the idea can be used to improve practical designs. So I guess at least its a "fresh" idea and innovating to a degree. Which we need more of.
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