Mexican Media Brands
Printing Prototypes
Skorpion Engineering, an Italian firm with operations in both Milan and Turin, is deploying 3D printers from Stratasys to produce complex prototypes 50 percent faster than it was able to do when it was using clay modeling to produce components.
.jpg;width=70;height=70;mode=crop)
Share
Skorpion Engineering, an Italian firm with operations in both Milan and Turin, is deploying 3D printers from Stratasys to produce complex prototypes 50 percent faster than it was able to do when it was using clay modeling to produce components.
Case in point is a full-size car bumper. They used a Fortus 900mc machine—a printer that performs fused deposition modeling (FDM) with a wide variety of thermoplastics and which features a build size of 36 x 24 x 36 inches—to produce it.
According to Italo Moriggi, General Manager, Skorpion Engineering, “In the context of the end-to-end manufacturing workflow, the level of time-saving enjoyed with 3D printing isn’t merely improvement or progression – it’s transformational. In fact, with 3D printing we can send prototypes to our customers the very next day.”
Skorpion has six machines, including PolyJet 3D printers, such as a Objet350 Connex3, which has the ability to combine rigid and soft materials into one build, such as an instrument panel>
Moriggi: “The ability to combine contrasting material characteristics permits us to optimize parts and indicate how our customers can save both time and capital by overcoming engineering challenges early in the design phase. In terms of the dashboard, we could deliver this to our customer 50 percent faster compared to traditional methods.”
And while they’re producing prototype components today, that is just the start of where they think the technology will take them at Skorpion. According to Moriggi, “In fact, our goal is to utilize additive manufacturing to realize the production of a fully-functional concept car within the next five years.”
RELATED CONTENT
-
Ford Copies Nature
As Nature (yes, capital N Nature) has done a pretty good job of designing things, it is somewhat surprising that Man (ditto) doesn’t follow Nature’s lead more often when it comes to designing objects.
-
Mustang Changes for 2018
On Tuesday Ford unveiled—using the social media channels of actor Dwayne Johnson (this has got to unnerve some of the auto buff book editors)—the 2018 Mustang, which has undergone some modifications: under the hood (the 3.7-liter V6 is giving way to a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four, and a 10-speed automatic is available), on the dash (a 12-inch, all-digital LCD screen is available for the dashboard), at the tires (12 wheel choices), on the chassis (MagneRide damper technology is being offered with the Mustang Performance Package), and on the exterior (three new paint colors). And while on the subject of the exterior, there are some notable changes—a lower, remodeled hood, repositioned hood vents, new upper and lower front grilles, LED front lights, revised LED taillamps, new rear bumper and fascia.
-
Things to Know About Cam Grinding
By James Gaffney, Product Engineer, Precision Grinding and Patrick D. Redington, Manager, Precision Grinding Business Unit, Norton Company (Worcester, MA)
