May 2019

| 30 | May 2019 www.smartmachinesandfactories.com | SOLUTIONS | T he automotive industry was one of the first industries to truly realise the benefits of 3D printing. Advanced technology has led to significant changes in the development, design, manufacturing and distribution processes of car manufacturers over the last decade. This results in safer and lighter products, new designs, lower costs and shorter development and manufacturing processes. A study by Allied Market Research shows that 3D printing increases the value of existing products and functionality in every way, making it indispensable in the automotive industry. The success story of 3D printing began with prototyping. Today, additive manufacturing processes have also arrived in other areas of the automotive industry and are developing their potential there. The development of individual tools for more efficient production is nowadays one of the most successful new applications of 3D printing in the automotive industry. 3D printing at Ford Ford uses Ultimaker's desktop 3D printers to design and manufacture assembly tools such as jigs, fixtures and gauges. Tools with sometimes complex designs are produced cost- effectively, significantly faster and directly on site. A key factor in the use of desktop 3D printers is the open filament system. Using filaments with Ford relies on Desktop 3D printing to produce a variety of assembly tools, jigs and fixtures. The large variety of filaments with specific material properties offers many options. Ultimaker’s open filament system enables material producers to provide industrial-grade materials with different properties. Smart Machines & Factories reports. Additive manufacturing – the material makes the difference