Major automakers are expanding their use of 3D printing technology, also known as additive manufacturing, to streamline production and reduce expenses. The technology, which creates three-dimensional objects from digital designs by dispensing materials layer by layer, has been available for decades but is becoming more prevalent in automotive manufacturing. Companies use it to produce vehicle parts, accessories, assembly plant tools, and research prototypes.
Rivian has made a significant investment in the technology, spending over $5 million on 3D-printing machines with material costs reaching approximately $1.7 million annually. According to Jared Beck, the company’s head of additive manufacturing, the machines typically pay for themselves within a year by reducing supplier tooling costs, streamlining logistics, and cutting production timelines from weeks to days or even hours. Rivian plans to expand its operations by installing flexible silicone printing capabilities and establishing a printing bay at its Normal, Illinois facility for on-demand production.
Ford has implemented a different approach, establishing additive manufacturing departments at numerous plants and recently installing a vending machine for 3D-printed parts at its Dearborn headquarters. The company operates roughly two dozen machines that produce thousands of tools and parts, with employees able to request items through an app. Ford expects to deploy 3D labs at more than 23 plants by year’s end and currently operates over 200 machines through its official program.
General Motors has similarly expanded its 3D-printing capabilities, using 135 components for its Cadillac Celestiq and other luxury vehicles. Equipment costs vary significantly, ranging from hundreds of dollars for hobby devices to hundreds of thousands for industrial-grade machines. Stratasys, a 3D-printing company working with major automakers, emphasizes the importance of making the technology faster and more economically accessible as material properties continue to improve and use cases expand.
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