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3d metal printing service
These days, 3D printing technologies are advanced enough to enable both prototyping and the production of parts made of high-performance materials.
One of the biggest benefits 3D printing brings to car manufacturers is the ability to cut costs and time needed for producing prototypes.
Exclusive, high-end manufacturers which produce a small number of cars have the luxury of 3D printing high-end, end-use parts. For manufacturers like Bugatti & Koenigsegg, 3D printing can cut costs for prototyping and enable exclusivity to be added to their cars.
HRE Wheels specializes in the production of high-end wheels. Recently the company attracted lots of media attention thanks to the HRE3D+ 3D printed wheels project.
HRE Wheels partnered with GE Additive to get the access to high performance industrial 3D printers. The HRE3D+ 3D printed wheel consists of a centrepiece, 5 spokes, titanium fasteners for fitting the spokes to the centrepiece, and a carbon fibre rim.
What 3D printing brings into wheel production is the reduction of material waste and the ability to seamlessly produce very complex, fancy shapes. At HRE it replaces CNC milling, which generates a significant amount of waste from carving the wheel out of an aluminium block. Whereas 3D printing uses material only where it’s needed, leaving almost no waste material.
Although 3D printing wheels is an expensive process as of now, in the long run the automotive sector could experience many benefits the technology brings into the wheel production.