Current status and future prospects of using 3D printers in the automotive industry

Abstract

In the Japanese automotive industry, as seen in the "Copen" of Daihatsu cars, the exterior parts that are attached later, such as conventional grills, skirts, spoilers, etc., are of the same shape, but now the shape of them are available to be customized with a 3D printer. Here we can see an example of the shift from mass production to mass customization. A supplier of certain foundries manufacture molds such as turbochargers, cylinder blocks, and exhaust manifolds with 3D printers for 10 years.
However, in many automotive manufacturers and suppliers, the production of parts with 3D printers has not been replaced by conventional construction methods. This paper discuss the problems and their solutions for dissemination of 3D printers from the usage situation in Japanese automotive industry.