3D Printed Supercars and the Future of Automotive Engineering

By Maya Rector

Imagine a world where car parts can be 3D-printed at record speeds and entire cars can be manufactured in a mere number of hours. This is just the beginning of what may become the 3D printing revolution in the automotive industry.

Berkeley MEng alumnus Chuks (Chukwubuikem) Marcel Okoli currently works as a vehicle structural engineer at Divergent 3D and is responsible for designing and analyzing the structural components of the chassis to ensure high performance and the absolute safety of occupants. Divergent 3D is a company that specializes in automotive 3D printing and has gained notoriety for creating the world’s first 3D printed supercar named Blade in 2015.

Chuks posing with the chassis structure of Blade

The current timeline to complete the process of manufacturing a car made entirely by utilizing 3D printing technology could take as little as a month. The bulk of the time is taken up by the design phase, where models are created for each part of the automobile. The actual manufacturing process itself could eventually take as little as a day depending on how many printers are available. After, the parts are printed separately, they are assembled to create a car made entirely of 3D printed parts.

Blade, fully assembled

Compared to traditional forms of automotive manufacturing, 3D printing is much less taxing on the environment. For instance, printing out individual parts has many advantages due to the lightweight materials used: not only does this allow for waste reduction as a result of using less material, but the lightweight vehicles also allow for higher fuel efficiency which helps to reduce environmental pollution.

Additionally, 3D printed cars will ultimately lower the cost of automobiles. It starts with the lower cost of manufacturing as compared to the immense capital required to build and maintain a traditional automobile manufacturing plant. This cost is greatly reduced in 3D printed cars, and as technology improves, more and more companies will begin to transition over.

Indeed 3D-printing is growing in popularity and has been increasingly implemented across a range of fields. There are a few auto manufacturers that are currently using 3D printing for constructing certain vehicle parts, which are primarily made out of plastic. The aerospace industry is also exploring 3D printing due to its efficacy in fast prototyping. As engineers continue to pioneer this new manufacturing capability, 3D printing is expected to play a significant role for how products will be made across various industries in the near future.

As the world looks towards an uncertain environmental future, it is important now more than ever to consider viable alternatives to traditionally manufactured cars, which account for roughly 20% of the world’s annual air pollution. With their low production costs, lightweight materials, efficient manufacturing time, energy saving fuel efficiency, and ability to reduce pollution, 3D printed cars such as the ones being made at Divergent 3D are looking to the future of automotive engineering to ensure a better future for the planet and its drivers.

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Berkeley Master of Engineering

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Master of Engineering at UC Berkeley with a focus on leadership. Learn more about the program through our publication.

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