Forbes headline: New 3D Printing Tech Could Be A Game Changer For Auto Design And Manufacturing Steve Tengler Senior Contributor - A seasoned expert with 29+ years in automotive on advanced tech design Aug 24, 2022, 04:00am EDT
Disruption comes when we least expect it. Someone with a “just crazy enough” idea follows it to fruition and suddenly the world changes. And usually this evolves around an unmet need of the customer, industry or both.
Interestingly, such a disruption appears to have arrived at minimally automotive’s doorstep: the 3D printing of circuit boards. And the timing couldn’t be more perfect: right as incumbent auto manufacturers are struggling with getting innovative, electric vehicles to market quickly while supply chain issues abound and some combination of inflation or recession looms like a thunderstorm with distant rumbles. And although soothsaying articles about 3D printing disruptions probably smack of Chicken-Little-cries by now, this crazy enough tech approaches age-old design and manufacturing with disruptions for speed to market, upgrades to design and controls for supplies.
Legacy companies? It would be nice, but it is REALLY hard for them to accept innovation, even for the simplest of concepts. I spent a LOT of time fighting that sort of system and had mixed success… and I was the exception (for most, innovation is not a thing).
Rob
Former RB and BL Home Fool, Supernova Portfolio Contributor & Maintenance Fool
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
3D printing had lots of promise 10? years ago. A few applications have succeeded but nothing like the killer apps required (remember Visicalc).
They say the light weight decorative plastics are often used but inexpensive, very competitive and not very profitable (once you buy the hardware).
I read that the fins in a jet engine use tiny little air holes for cooling. That’s an application where additive manufacturing seems to have promise. And people like GE are investing. But of course very high temp metals required. Not easy like plastics.
3D circuit boards or even integrated circuit chips could be an interesting application. Research continues. You wonder what materials are required. Melted copper conductors?
