HP’s New 3D Printing System to Print BMW Car Parts

3D Printing, BMW, Car Parts, HP

Car parts are soon to become mass produced in a whole new way – using 3D printers.

HP announced last week that they have created the world’s first 3D printer for large-scale manufacturing with nine global companies; including BMW testing the revolutionary HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution.

One of the knocks that 3D printers have at present is speed. Using a 3D printer for manufacturing is significantly slower than current methods but HP promise this new model will produce at 10 times the current speed.

Stephen Nigro – head of 3D printing at HP believes this innovation will “change the way the world prints parts” and influence how businesses use 3D printing “from prototyping to production.”

BMW’s intentions for the new HP printing system involve integrating the system into the future production of serial parts and personal customisation. However, they remain tight-lipped as to what exactly will be printed and at what quantities for competitive reasons.

The 3D printing market has enormous potential for growth with the market expanding to $1.516 billion worldwide last year. This pales in comparison to the $640 billion that could be achieved if 3D printing is able to conquer just 5% of the $12.8 trillion manufacturing economy, according to Terry Wohlers, president at market researcher Wohlers & Associates.
3D printing is seen as a strategy to reduce inventories and provide faster turnaround for customised goods. It’s unlikely to win-over companies and replace mass-production anytime soon due to the high costs (running into millions of dollars) of acquiring and implementing 3D printing equipment in production.

We’re licking our lips at the prospects that 3D printing brings. Imagine that part you need (you know, the one that’s as rare as hen’s teeth) suddenly being made available at the touch of button. Rare parts, defunct parts, classic parts – all these could be made available thanks to 3D printing. What a world we live in!

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