Just as Henry Ford transformed the automobile industry in the 20th century, Local Motors plans to revolutionize the car manufacturing process with its first 3D-engineered car. The Strati was supposed to represent a milestone in the vehicle production process and indicate the direction of production development in the automotive industry.
The fact is that 3d printer technology has advanced to such a level that it is already possible to print practically any product. The car, which is the crown of the complexity of technology and is made up of a multitude of components, presents a special challenge to the developers of this type of technology. Strati was created as an exhibition project of the company Local Motors as part of the Chicago Technology Show. It took approx 44 hours and produced a car with only 50 basic components. Most of the bodywork is made of extruded plastics, similar to that at Lego blocks.
How it was created - Strati 3d (video)
This is precisely why the car is drastic simpler and cheaper, which can be an excellent starting point for an industry that is so eager to reduce vehicle manufacturing costs. If the company succeeds, it will definitely mark a turning point in the way and approach to car manufacturing.
Strati – 3d
A case of two-seater coupe without a roof, weighing almost one ton and printed entirely in a huge 3D printer the size of a container container. Interestingly, most of the chassis components are already assembled before the car goes to press. In this way, the car gets exceptional structural strength. Lose for electric vehicle (EV), which can currently only reach around 40km/h, and with it it is possible to reach around 180 kilometers. The company also promises the possibility of a hybrid, as well as a classic internal combustion engine.
According to company representatives, the expected price will be approx 18,000 dollars.
More information:
localmotors.com
