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Making the Case for 3D-Printed Car Parts
Carmakers increasingly use 3D-printing to quickly create prototype parts for testing.
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Carmakers increasingly use 3D-printing to quickly create prototype parts for testing. But now they’re beginning to look at adding such components into the mass production process, says expert Josh Parker of Proto Labs Inc., a Minnesota-based rapid prototyping service.
3D-printed parts may cost more than traditionally made components. But Parker says the lifecycle costs of such components can be competitive because they save weight, reduce maintenance and eliminate the need for traditional assembly costs such as welding or fasteners.
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