The world's first 3-D printed car

[franco90]

If you thought that the Porsche hybrid was an incredible piece of automotive design, then you’ll be blown away by the Urbee. The entire body of this streamlined new gasoline/ethanol hybrid has been generated using 3-D printing technology. A collaborative design by Stratasys and Kor Ecologic, the Urbee is the first car ever to have its entire body printed using additive manufacturing processes.


Read more: The Urbee Hybrid is the World's First 3-D Printed Car | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World
The Urbee was designed for the 2010 X-Prize Competition — the eco-friendly vehicle able to get up to 200 mpg on the highway and 100 mpg in city conditions using either gasoline or ethanol. An undoubtedly innovative design with a keen futuristic aesthetic, the Urbee also signals what could be a shift towards more efficient and flexible automotive manufacturing.
“FDM lets us eliminate tooling, machining, and handwork, and it brings incredible efficiency when a design change is needed,” Jim Kor, president and chief technology officer at Kor Ecologic explains. “If you can get to a pilot run without any tooling, you have advantages.”
3-D printing technology has seen many advancements over the last few years. Once a costly process with questionable results, today it’s being widely used to build everything from blockbuster costumes, to buildings, to even body parts – it’s no surprise to see motor vehicles joining the list.


Read more: The Urbee Hybrid is the World's First 3-D Printed Car | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

[Nairb]

I don't get it.

[z31maniac]

Look up 3D printing, philistine.

[Nairb]

Will I need special glasses to drive the car?

'CUZ THEY SO TACKY, LOLZ.

[pfahls1]

We have a Stratasys FDM Titan here at work. We also have two Objets and one Z-Corp machines. If you can model it in CAD, they can build it. We use ours to build models of spines using real CT data from patients so surgeons can perform pre operational plans as well as prototypes of spinal implants and instruments. I've been trained on all three machines and love it when I get the chance to run them.

[Massive Lee]

I never knew that such a big size could be produced. It is very common when doing smaller prototypes do build the object in a CAD and then have a prototype done, layer per layer. It gives a very good sense of the final product. Holes can be tapped, and the part can be assembled for mocking up if it is not too stressed.

I almost tried it a few years ago. But as it would have added one more costly step in the production process, I didn't embark.

[ck_taft325is]

If you thought that the Porsche hybrid was an incredible piece of automotive design, then you’ll be blown away by the Urbee. The entire body of this streamlined new gasoline/ethanol hybrid has been generated using 3-D printing technology. A collaborative design by Stratasys and Kor Ecologic, the Urbee is the first car ever to have its entire body printed using additive manufacturing processes.

Read more: The Urbee Hybrid is the World's First 3-D Printed Car | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

The Urbee was designed for the 2010 X-Prize Competition — the eco-friendly vehicle able to get up to 200 mpg on the highway and 100 mpg in city conditions using either gasoline or ethanol. An undoubtedly innovative design with a keen futuristic aesthetic, the Urbee also signals what could be a shift towards more efficient and flexible automotive manufacturing.
“FDM lets us eliminate tooling, machining, and handwork, and it brings incredible efficiency when a design change is needed,” Jim Kor, president and chief technology officer at Kor Ecologic explains. “If you can get to a pilot run without any tooling, you have advantages.”
3-D printing technology has seen many advancements over the last few years. Once a costly process with questionable results, today it’s being widely used to build everything from blockbuster costumes, to buildings, to even body parts – it’s no surprise to see motor vehicles joining the list.

Read more: The Urbee Hybrid is the World's First 3-D Printed Car | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

That picture looks ridiculously fake.

[CorvallisBMW]

That picture looks ridiculously fake.

Ya, there's no way it's a real photo

The 3D printing I believe though, that technology has come a long way. Instant prototyping without fabrication, it's amazing.

[franco90]

[imsotyerred]

soooo this paint will make the car look 3d?

coooool I need more 3d

[imdashiz]

mindfuck on da realz

[Dozyproductions]

that is disgustingly hideous.

[CaptCanada]

Does it got 3 wheels?

[george graves]

Look up 3D printing, philistine.

Well first he's going to have to look up philistine. :giggle:

[Hey_You]

Will I need special glasses to drive the car?

'CUZ THEY SO TACKY, LOLZ.

Not no more! That's right, they are 3D glasses