3d Printing in the Automotive Industry Transform Automotive Manufacturing Without Touching a Part In the automotive industry, there are thousands of parts unique to each vehicle, and a uniquely designed jig, fixture or tool to create each one. Launch dates are fixed, budgets are tightly controlled, and proven processes are difficult and expensive to change. Yet every year, automotive engineers are tasked with making cars that advance fuel efficiency, performance, safety and aesthetics at minimal cost. Something's gotta give. The Essentium HSE 180 3D Printing Platform is a low-cost alternative that can be used for 3D printing in the automotive industry in order to quickly produce virtually all of the jigs, fixtures and tools for next year's models right on the factory floor. Plus, Essentium provides a wide range of high-performance filaments using the same materials employed during production for fast, accurate prototyping and end-use part production without surprises. Transform how cars are made without touching a part with Essentium additive manufacturing technology. Key Applications Tooling Save time and money. Create large, highly accurate molds, iterate on the fly, and print them in a matter of days for pennies on the dollar compared to traditional tooling methods. Jigs & Fixtures Save space and free up CNC machines while iterating parts faster than ever before with complete freedom of design for improved speed to production. Rapid Prototyping Eliminate test molds and shots while going beyond form and fit testing. Use additive manufacturing to print a prototype using high-performance materials ready for function testing. The HSE 180•ST 3D Printer Essentium's High Speed Extrusion (HSE) 3D Printer is designed for industrial production and performs to the level required in the most demanding manufacturing environments. Offering class-leading print speeds greater than 500 mm/sec by utilizing a non-slip, high torque extrusion system and all linear servo motors X-Y stage, the Essentium HSE 180 3D Printing Platform is the right solution for your application. The HSE 180•ST 3D Printer uses non-marring ESD-safe and nylon materials that are ideally suited for mold tooling, jigs and fixtures, end use parts and other important applications within the automotive and transportation industries. Recommended Automotive Materials Essentium PP-CF Essentium PP-CF has excellent chemical resistance and low surface energy which makes it useful for silicone and urethane low pressure molding applications. Find out more » Essentium ABS MG94 Essentium ABS MG94 filament made with SABIC CYCOLACTM MG94 resin is a premium grade of ABS designed for high speed prints with excellent surface finish and balanced mechanical properties. Find out more » ESSENTIUM TPU 58D-AS Essentium’s TPU 58D-AS is an industry-first ESD safe and anti-static 58D Shore hardness thermoplastic polyurethane filament that is available in a variety of colors. Find out more » Essentium TPU 90A Flame Retardant Essentium Flame Retardant TPU 90A has been engineered to have the perfect balance of elasticity and toughness. Find out more » Why Essentium? Implementing design changes can be costly and time-consuming – luxuries the automotive industry cannot afford – especially given the lag time in outsourced tooling while moving through multiple iterations of hundreds of parts. The Essentium HSE 180•ST 3D Printer delivers the speed, size and material versatility to handle the production of up to 85% of all the jigs and fixtures required to assemble a vehicle. In fact the HSE 180•ST 3D Printer has a build area large enough to fit every part of a car except the hood and fender. No other manufacturing option gives engineers the ability to design a part in the morning and have a prototype on their desk by the afternoon. Designed for reliability at scale, the HSE 180•ST 3D Printer reduces the turnaround time and cost of your next automotive innovation. Request a Quote Request a quote of Essentium's unique 3D printing technologies today Request A Quote Essentium Blogs October 21, 2021 Transport With Confidence: 3D Printed Custom Inserts for Sensitive Equipment These days, nearly every military operation requires the support of sensitive gear that must arrive on site in pristine condition. Examples include radar tracking equipment, unmanned drones and controllers, munitions and detonation devices, armament inspection tools, telecommunications systems, and many others. Read More October 12, 2021 3D Printed Production Parts: Solving for QMS is Possible with the Essentium HSE 3D Printing Platform Additive manufacturing (AM) was initially viewed as a prototyping technology — a very creative and cost-effective means for product engineers to experiment with various sizes, shapes, and types of materials. It was a great tool for innovation, but most early 3D printers lacked the speed, size, and accuracy required to 3D print production parts at […] Read More September 30, 2021October 5, 2021 Developing for Extreme Conditions: 3D Printed Traction Cleats for Military Boots Join the United States Armed Forces (any branch) and part of the provided uniform is one pair of standard-issue combat boots. Designed for dry conditions, the boots’ composite rubber soles provide adequate footing for walking on concrete, asphalt, and packed dirt, but not so much when the terrain is covered in mud, slush, snow, or ice. Read More
Essentium PP-CF Essentium PP-CF has excellent chemical resistance and low surface energy which makes it useful for silicone and urethane low pressure molding applications. Find out more »
Essentium ABS MG94 Essentium ABS MG94 filament made with SABIC CYCOLACTM MG94 resin is a premium grade of ABS designed for high speed prints with excellent surface finish and balanced mechanical properties. Find out more »
ESSENTIUM TPU 58D-AS Essentium’s TPU 58D-AS is an industry-first ESD safe and anti-static 58D Shore hardness thermoplastic polyurethane filament that is available in a variety of colors. Find out more »
Essentium TPU 90A Flame Retardant Essentium Flame Retardant TPU 90A has been engineered to have the perfect balance of elasticity and toughness. Find out more »
October 21, 2021 Transport With Confidence: 3D Printed Custom Inserts for Sensitive Equipment These days, nearly every military operation requires the support of sensitive gear that must arrive on site in pristine condition. Examples include radar tracking equipment, unmanned drones and controllers, munitions and detonation devices, armament inspection tools, telecommunications systems, and many others. Read More
October 12, 2021 3D Printed Production Parts: Solving for QMS is Possible with the Essentium HSE 3D Printing Platform Additive manufacturing (AM) was initially viewed as a prototyping technology — a very creative and cost-effective means for product engineers to experiment with various sizes, shapes, and types of materials. It was a great tool for innovation, but most early 3D printers lacked the speed, size, and accuracy required to 3D print production parts at […] Read More
September 30, 2021October 5, 2021 Developing for Extreme Conditions: 3D Printed Traction Cleats for Military Boots Join the United States Armed Forces (any branch) and part of the provided uniform is one pair of standard-issue combat boots. Designed for dry conditions, the boots’ composite rubber soles provide adequate footing for walking on concrete, asphalt, and packed dirt, but not so much when the terrain is covered in mud, slush, snow, or ice. Read More
