14 DAY TRIAL // Vehicles are among the most sophisticated things that people can own, and among the most useful too, but that doesn't mean that the technology used to manufacture them should be complicated as well. Local Motors doesn't think so anyway.
In truth, lots of things are going to become less complicated without losing their sophistication, thanks to 3D printing technology. Indeed, the sophistication may even increase in some cases.
It wouldn't have been possible for such a paradigm shift to occur, say, a decade ago, but now, 30 years after the first 3D printer was tested, the technology is far enough along that it can change how things are done.
So, instead of long assembly lines, vehicle chassis could be made exclusively via 3D printing technology starting at some point in the near future.
Local Motors has, in fact, already begun to make 3D printed cars. Mass production is still a way off, but there's already a working model.
In fact, the company, based out of Phoenix, Arizona will be 3D printing a car live at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago. The event will take place from on September 8 to September 13, 2014.
They've already made one really, and have published a video of the first test drive, as a way to prepare for IMTS and make sure that everything works as it should.
Indeed, it would have been outright foolish not to do this, since the tiniest problem could lead to a veritable disaster. Especially if, say, something isn't right with the drive train.
The engine and electronics won't be 3D printed of course (the technology isn't good enough for that yet), but lots of mechanical components and connections will be.
In fact, the mystery of just how much will be 3D printed and how much won't be is probably something that Local Motors is deliberately fueling.
The car is pretty small, as you can see. The one that will be made in September might, of course, look a bit better at the end of it all, but the test mule was all practicality and no fashion. Making things look good with 3D printing is a skill that doesn't need much polishing at this point. It's ensuring the functionality that's the tricky part.
There's no way to tell if the car design will catch on, if a vehicle will be created with the framework, if anything will come of it all really, marketing-wise.
