"You wouldn't download a car"

[MR2 Fan]

Yes, you would, you really would...and then 3D print one

http://www.3ders.org//articles/20140615-local-motors-3d-printed-car-takes-first-test-drive.html

Ok, it's not exactly a fully 3D printed car yet...but it's a start. It will be interesting to see what they do in this September show where they plan to fully print and build a car in 6 days.

In other news, here is a 3D printed titanium steering wheel

http://3dprint.com/6144/bloodhound-1000-mph/

...something about hearing the words "3D printed titanium" make me all excited and stuff.

[Freude am Fahren]

I can see in the not so distant future when a single machine loaded with a host of materials can print nearly anything, no matter the complexity, with all hoses, electrical wires, circuit boards, etc. completely hooked up and ready to use. Just add fluids. Cars, TV's, Phones, just about everything.

That is as long as we are still here and haven't killed ourselves/destroyed society first.

[Drachen596]

Fwiw there are companies 3d printing houses or at least the main structures.

[Alan P]

I would love a time where you can download a plan for a car part and print it from home or request one from the parts shop and they print it. Half the stock on the shelves becomes useless which means smaller places.

[MR2 Fan]

I would love a time where you can download a plan for a car part and print it from home or request one from the parts shop and they print it. Half the stock on the shelves becomes useless which means smaller places.

It's getting close to that...I'd say we'll see a lot of progress in the next 3-4 years.

[KillerB]

The problem, as I see it, is that you may have 3D printers in your house, but you won't have facilities for melting or forging steel or aluminum, so anything that does need to be made out of metal (engine parts, suspension, etc) is going to have to be sourced elsewhere, or carved from billet, which is $$$.

It will, however, work wonders for replacing NLA trim, which is a big problem for all but the most popular classic vehicles.

[MR2 Fan]

The problem, as I see it, is that you may have 3D printers in your house, but you won't have facilities for melting or forging steel or aluminum, so anything that does need to be made out of metal (engine parts, suspension, etc) is going to have to be sourced elsewhere, or carved from billet, which is $$$.

It will, however, work wonders for replacing NLA trim, which is a big problem for all but the most popular classic vehicles.

You can 3D print metal parts...Koenigsegg is doing it right now

[KillerB]

How are they doing it? Carving from billet or something else?

[MR2 Fan]

How are they doing it? Carving from billet or something else?

Laser sintering metal powder


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zknjvQtn6e4

[Kchrpm]

with all hoses, electrical wires, circuit boards, etc. completely hooked up
Maintenance will be a bitch, unless they're going to 3D print stuff with threads and already "screwed" on.

[Freude am Fahren]

Yeah, I'm thinking they are still connections in most cases, but they're printed "connected"

[MR2 Fan]

3D printed air intake plastics for hacking a different kind of air intake to a car:

http://diy3dprinting.blogspot.com/2014/06/hacking-used-cars-with-3d-printed.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter