Volkswagen invests in two Stratasys J850 3D printers to advance automotive design
World's first full-color 3D printer helps Volkswagen further develop new vehicle designs
Volkswagen, one of the largest and most iconic automotive players, has invested in the world's first full-color, multi-material Stratasys 3D printing technology to further advance its prototyping and open up new possibilities in automotive design.
Volkswagen has 25 years of experience in 3D printing to innovate vehicle design and manufacturing. This investment will enable the creation of multi-material prototypes that mirror final production parts with up to 99% accuracy. This level of realism allows the team to better test and improve part designs, all while meeting Volkswagen’s stringent quality requirements.
Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line (Image Source: Volkswagen AG).
With a Stratasys J850 3D printer, the Volkswagen Pre-Series-Center
can print ultra-realistic prototypes for vehicle interiors
The Stratasys J850 3D printer can produce full-color prototypes in up to seven different materials, with the ability to vary stiffness, flexibility and transparency – even in a single print. This saves Volkswagen significant time and costs compared to traditional multi-step design processes such as assembly and painting of parts.
The Volkswagen Pre-Series-Center team uses 3D printing to create surfaces with different textures for the vehicle interiors – from fabric to leather to wood. The use of the latest transparent material VeroUltraClear makes it possible to reproduce the clarity of glass. Simulating vehicles with realistic models gives designers creative freedom, as new designs can be tested and perfected quickly and cost-effectively.
Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line (Image Source: Volkswagen AG).
Using the latest VeroUltraClear material,
Volkswagen can simulate the clarity of glass
Peter Bartels, Head of the Volkswagen Pre-Series-Center, says: “Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Volkswagen, to develop vehicles that inspire and make our customers proud owners. To achieve this, it is essential that our design teams use the latest cutting-edge technologies. We encourage them to unleash their creativity and raise the bar in automotive design. Our Stratasys J850 3D printers have been received with great enthusiasm by our engineers, as they can now more easily optimize their design processes in their work.”
Andreas Langfeld, President of Stratasys EMEA, added: “Volkswagen is a long-standing customer who has always appreciated the potential of PolyJet 3D printing and has pushed the boundaries of the technology to innovate the design process. The J850 is our most advanced system yet, giving companies a competitive edge and taking their design capabilities to the next level. We are excited to see what creative applications the Volkswagen team will develop with this technology.”
Learn more about the Stratasys J850 3D printer used by Volkswagen HERE!