You Wouldn’t 3D Print A Car — Until Now

3D Printing & Imaging
You Wouldn’t 3D Print A Car — Until Now

3DPcar

maker-faire-bay-area-logo-2014OK, so it’s not exactly a “car,” it’s a 3D printed, 70 pound, giant RC vehicle. Although you can’t quite yet drive around in it, stay tuned to rockstar 3D printing designer Michael Curry’s YouTube feed for updates.

This monster took more than 5 months to fabricate in PLA on two MakerBot Replicator 2s at Kansas City’s Hammerspace.

YouTube player

To print this puppy, Curry used the following settings: 2 shells, 0.2mm layer height, and 10% infill density. During his test of the 3D printed rear differential, he found it could support a combined weight of at least 70 pounds. Come on down to Maker Faire Bay Area to see it in action!

Check out the build stage videos Curry made documenting the evolution of this fantastic project:

3D Print This Car — The Rear Axle

YouTube player

3D Print This Car, Rear End Prototype #2

YouTube player

3D Printed Vehicle — Rear Suspension Test

YouTube player

I’m really looking forward to seeing this at Maker Faire Bay Area this weekend! Have you fabricated your own vehicle? Tell us about it!

0 thoughts on “You Wouldn’t 3D Print A Car — Until Now

  1. Mike Senese says:

    Kudos to Michael — this is fantastic. What software did he use to CAD the parts?

Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!
Tagged

Anna Kaziunas France is interested practical digital fabrication focused project documentation (anything that turns codes into things), as well as adventures in synthetic biology, biohacking, personal genomics and programmable materials.

She's currently working on the forthcoming book "Design for CNC: Practical Joinery Techniques, Projects, and Tips for CNC-routed Furniture".

She’s also the Academic Dean of the global Fab Academy program, the co-author of Getting Started with MakerBot and compiled the Make: 3D Printing book.

Formerly, she worked as an editor for Make: Books, was digital fabrication editor and skill builder section editor for Make: Magazine, and directed Make:'s 2015 and 2014 3D Printer Shootout testing events.

She likes things that are computer-controlled, parametric, and open— preferably all three.

Find her on her personal site, Twitter and Facebook.

View more articles by Anna Kaziunas France

ADVERTISEMENT

Maker Faire Bay Area 2023 - Mare Island, CA

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 15th iteration!

Buy Tickets today! SAVE 15% and lock-in your preferred date(s).

FEEDBACK