Printing A Car, and Small Wonder

World auto exhibitions are believed to be a common place to reveal automotive novelties and hi-tech rarities. That’s no wonder there are so much engineering and design advanced solutions at current shows to please the attendees. However, could we believe that building a real car just on the expo floor is just a common thing, couldn’t we? Local Motors turns it into reality.

At 2015 NAIAS, the American Local Motors startup revealed the 3D-printed Strati model. They had built and assembled a revamped printed vehicle with its printing micro-factory live on the show floor, that’s the point. The whole printing process took only 44 hours and a very little room to fabricate the model with the help of using the 3D data. At first, they printed rough parts – it comes to around 200 layers of reinforced carbon fiber plastic details. Then the company refined the components and, at last, polished them when the unique CNC router mills the fine car details. Adding up the drivetrain and internal equipment gives the 3D-Strati a finished appearance. The estimated price would be about $53,000.

About the future automotive tendencies in the 3D-printing Davis Woessner, Local Motors general manager, speaks at this year SAA Auto Outlook Conference. Plans and projects sound great; just make them real, LM!