The German concern plans to reduce the cost of production of serial models of the brand due to the new 3D printing technology.
Volkswagen says it is using a new 3D printing process called binder inkjet printing. This process makes it 50% easier to make components than sheet steel parts.
Binder spraying replaces the laser used in traditional 3D printing with a two-step process that involves the use of glue to assemble the parts. According to VW, this process reduces costs and increases productivity. Volkswagen is currently the only automaker to use this process.
In particular, the first parts made by this process are the components of the front rack for the T-Roc convertible.
The details are about twice as heavy as if they were made the traditional way. Volkswagen says it has already tested the impact strength of parts printed on a 3D printer.
Volkswagen also announced that it has entered into a software partnership with Siemens in addition to the existing printer partnership with HP Inc. This will provide even more production advantages and will lead to such an efficiency as an attachment in which several parts are produced simultaneously in one printing chamber. These innovations will make 3D printing inexpensive so that it can be used in production cars, says VW.
The new technology is the latest in VW’s long history of 3D printing, which is an impressive 25 years old. By 2025, the automaker plans to produce up to 100,000 3D printed parts a year.
Read also that the new crossover Volkswagen Tiguan received a sporty version of Urban Sport.
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