Z Corp. 3D Printers are used for everything from concept creation to production planning, allowing design engineers to speed and improve the development process.
Leading Z Corp. Customers include
Ford
Benteler
F1 Racing
Porsche
Problem
The automotive industry has historically used rapid prototyping as an integral tool in the design process. However, outsourcing high-end prototypes is expensive, and can cause a strain on design lead times. The fast-paced design cycles in the automotive industry require a rapid prototyping solution that can produce almost any geometry with a variety of material properties, quickly and inexpensively.
Z Corp. 3D Printers Improve:
Internal Communication Z Corp. 3D Printers enable design teams to efficiently iterate on product concepts early in the design process, enabling multiple renditions to be visualized and critiqued by a variety of functional teams within an organization.
Functional Testing Utilizing Z Corp.'s range of infiltration resins, automotive design engineers are able to conduct functional testing on parts printed on a Z Corp. Printer. Infiltrated parts can be machined, drilled and tapped. Additionally, infiltrants can be used to significantly improve the durability, humidity resistance and high temperature properties of Z Corp. parts during airflow, vibration and other rigorous testing.
Casting Z Corp.’s ZCast™ Direct Metal Casting process allows engineers to pour metal directly into a mold printed on a Z Corp. 3D Printer, eliminating the need for a pattern. Additionally, Z Corp. parts can be used as patterns in the traditional investment casting and sand casting processes for the production of metal prototype parts.
Production Planning Automotive companies use Z Corp. parts to walk the product line and ensure that they have the right tools at each station to complete production in the most efficient way possible.
Finished Presentation Models Z Corp. parts can be sanded and painted to create a "class A" finished look. Exact replicas of production models can be used to solicit focus group feedback on proposed new features.
