Volkswagen began to print on the 3D-printer metal parts for cars

2019: Volkswagen began to print on the 3D-printer metal parts for cars

In November, 2019 told Volkswagen about the beginning serial 3D - printings of metal component parts for the cars. The German concern used 3D-printers with technology of HP Metal Jet for production more than 10 thousand parts for the electric vehicle ID.3.

It is in the future going to increase the amount of products created on 3D-printers to 50–100 thousand parts a year. At first it will be simple elements, like the handle for the lever of switching of speeds and components of fastening of mirrors, and afterwards — the metal elements which received all necessary safety certificates.

Told Volkswagen about the beginning serial 3D - printings of metal component parts for the cars

HP cooperates with the leading supplier of metal parts of GKN Powder Metallurgy for deployment of the Metal Jet HP plants intended for releases of functional metal component parts for automobile and other industries.

Cooperation between Volkswagen, HP and GKN Powder Metallurgy allowed to pass quickly from pilot tests to mass production of parts using volume printing.

Became Volkswagen the first client who began to use technology of HP Metal Jet in industrial production. In the photo lower the handle of the automobile transmission which is manufactured by means of new technology is represented. HP, commenting on this example, says that Metal Jet allows to create the most irregular shapes which other production technologies cannot do.

At this HP she intends to cooperate not only with large corporations, such as Volkswagen, but also to attract small clients. For this purpose was service 3DaaS — three-dimensional printing is started. It allows to order supplies for 3D-printers, proceeding from necessary quantity of the created objects and also it is better to control expenses and use of the equipment.^[1]

2018: Volkswagen opened the 3D center - printings for industrial use of 3D-printers

In December, 2018 the instrumental division of the German carmaker Volkswagen opened in the city of Wolfsburg (Germany), the new modern center 3D - printings of 3100 m ².

In this VW center will study opportunities jet 3D there are printings for production of prototypes and tools which can be applied commercially. In addition in the next 2-3 years the company is going to begin to use technology and for production of end products that will become an important stage in achievement of the predicted production rate of large-size 3D-printing parts in number of more than 100,000 units a year.

The opening ceremony of the 3D center - printing Wolfsburg

For many years VW experimented with 3D - printing to find out what areas best of all are suitable for its application. In luxury cars - Audi and Porsche - use 3D - printings was directed to reduction of weight of components, including parts of the Audi W12 engine.

Together with the producer of desktop Ultimaker 3D-printers the VW company also won an award in the award "3D Printing Industry Awards" of 2018, having saved $160 thousand (10.5 million rubles) for costs of tools for the assembly plant Volkswagen Autoeuropa.

In two-three years, - Andreas Tostmann, the board member of the Volkswagen brand says. - Three-dimensional printing can be used for the first serial parts. In the future we will be able to use 3D-printers directly on a production line for assembly of cars.

The new center is equipped with the machines using technology of HP Metal Jet. HP Inc company. presented Metal Jet at the IMTS 2018 exhibition and confirmed that VW is one of partners helping with its development. The Metal Jet systems will not be available to mass consumption within at least 3 more years.

In photos from official start the new enterprise MetalFAB1 complex from the Dutch producer of Additive Industries 3D-printers was also noticed. Additive Industries has a long-term partnership with VW which was prolonged in November, 2018.^[2]

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