Thanks to 3D printing technology Ford parts production time reduced by 25%

News on June 10th, Beijing time. According to foreign media reports, with the decline in the prices of 3D printers and printing materials, this decades-old technology has gradually become popular in the past few years, and many companies have begun Benefit.

The Wall Street Journal recently conducted a survey of three major US manufacturers—Ford, GM, and Mattel—to see how these three manufacturers used 3D printing technology to reduce production costs and shorten production time during the product prototype design stage.

Ford used this technology to print cylinder heads, brake pads and rear axles for test vehicles. Thanks to 3D printing, the production time of a cylinder head used by Ford in its fuel-efficient EcoBoost engine has been shortened from four to five months to three months, and production time has been saved by 25% to 40%. The previous casting method required cutting sand molds, and 3D printing eliminated the need for cutting and injected metal directly into the mold.

In addition, GM also said that 3D printing helped the company cut the production costs of certain components by up to 30%, including ultrasonic probes.

Ford believes that in the future, its customers will be able to print replacement parts for their cars, which can be completed in a local 3D printer for hours or even minutes.

However, Mattel currently has no plans to allow customers to print their Barbie dolls or other toys, saying it is mainly for child safety considerations.