Japan-based automotive producer Toyota has begun working with SOLIZE to 3D print spare automotive elements on-demand, it has been revealed.
As a part of a mission which began final 12 months, Toyota now makes use of HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing to create inventory components, earlier than promoting them alongside traditionally-produced spares. Along with offering the corporate with enhanced short-run manufacturing capabilities, utilizing the know-how is alleged to permit it to optimize the designs and lead occasions of newly-developed components.
“On daily basis we’re seeing rising traction and extra mature 3D printed purposes throughout many alternative industries globally, particularly in automotive,” stated Nobuki Okado, MD of HP Japan. “Main automakers just like the Toyota Motor Company are showcasing the ability of 3D printing for versatile design, velocity to market and sustainable impression.”
“HP and SOLIZE proceed to work collectively to fulfill the demand for extra progressive, customized and sustainable merchandise.”
Toyota’s automotive 3D printing experience
As you’d anticipate from one of many world’s largest automotive producers, Toyota makes use of a variety of manufacturing applied sciences to carry its huge car portfolio from the drafting board into actuality. On a number of events, the agency’s numerous manufacturing wants have seen it flip to 3D printing. Working with Materialise, as an illustration, the corporate has beforehand developed an ultra-lightweight 3D printed automotive seat.
Since then, Toyota has gone on to spend money on the know-how’s R&D, by co-developing Somos Taurus alongside DSM, a fabric stated to be excellent for automotive purposes due to its lofty 95°C warmth deflection temperature. On the College of Waterloo, in the meantime, the agency has had the 3D printing wing named after it, following a $2.1 million (CAD) donation it made to the establishment to advance its R&D in 2019.
In its Toyota Motorsport division, the corporate additionally continues to ramp up its adoption of the know-how. To-date, the agency’s racing arm has unveiled plans to develop new light-weight automotive supplies, in addition to committing to collaborate with 3D Programs on ‘superior applied sciences’ with high-end racing purposes.
Extra just lately, Toyota Racing Improvement (TRD), the corporate’s in-housing tuning division, has named Stratasys an Official 3D Printing Companion. In its new function, Stratasys has already helped TRD develop a number of end-use 3D printed components for the Toyota GR86, a sub-£30,000 manufacturing car that’s set to be raced within the new single-make GR Cup collection.
Assembly rising demand with SOLIZE
Arrange in response to rising buyer demand, Toyota’s spare half 3D printing mission is known to be multifaceted. On the one hand, the agency’s working with SOLIZE to supply prototypes by way of a gaggle of 5200 Sequence techniques, and make sure the high quality of its end-products. Elsewhere, on the opposite, HP says the know-how can be serving to Toyota “create a extra versatile manufacturing course of.”
Though the corporate hasn’t revealed the character of the components it has begun to 3D print, the 380 x 284 x 380mm construct quantity and 5058 cm3/hr print velocity of its machines, make them scalable to an industrial capability if wanted. Likewise, since launching the 5200 Sequence, HP has labored with BASF to help it with supplies like Excessive Reusability PP5, which can be utilized to create purposeful, sturdy components.
Partnering with SOLIZE, a enterprise with a background in automotive 3D printing, can be stated to have been key to Toyota’s profitable adoption of the know-how inside spare half manufacturing. In March 2021, it was revealed that the agency was 3D printing spares for Nissan’s heritage NISMO automobiles, and it now seems to be taking part in an identical function, in facilitating Toyota’s wider deployment of HP machines.
Reinforcing automotive provide chains
Given the issues that COVID-19 and Russia’s struggle in Ukraine proceed to trigger to international provide chains, it’s hardly shocking {that a} rising variety of automotive companies are turning to 3D printing and in-house manufacturing to get round them.
In June 2021, as an illustration, Daimler’s Vehicles & Buses division, which now trades individually from the broader Mercedes-Benz Group, partnered with service model Omniplus to launch a spare half 3D printing heart. Whereas the power relies in Hamburg, it’s deployable by truck to any location, solely requiring electrical energy and an web connection to operate.
Not lengthy after, the Sauber Group’s Sauber Engineering division additionally unveiled plans to determine a traditional automotive spare half 3D printing providing. On the time, it was reported that Sauber was searching for to make use of the experience gained from its 28 year-stint as an F1 crew to arrange a service, which provides to reverse engineer and print discontinued elements.
Elsewhere, the likes of Porsche have utilized the know-how to make sure the sustainability and accessibility of substitute components for its traditional automobiles. The corporate started utilizing custom-printed tooling and added quite a lot of SLS and SLM 3D printed spares to its catalog in 2018, which have been designed to assist clients make their classic autos run for longer.
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Featured picture reveals a fleet of HP Multi Jet Fusion 5200 3D printers and powder dealing with items. Picture by way of HP.
