What Is Tooling? 3D Printed Tooling?

Streamlined production is vital to success in the automotive industry. Quickly producing parts is essential to keeping a car company streamlined and competitive. If a car company falls behind in acquiring necessary parts for producing vehicles or supplying their customers with needed pieces, the business may fail.

Fortunately, 3D printing technology brings a quick solution to this issue. By printing necessary parts like jigs and fixtures with additive manufacturing methods, companies and individuals can receive their orders in minimal time with a guarantee of quality. When choosing how to have parts printed, most prospective customers face two options: they can either purchase their own printers or they can order from a 3D printing service like JawsTec. For most, outsourcing their parts is the most practical option because it is usually cheaper, faster, and less time-consuming. With a service like JawsTec, a customer can expect quality parts that are shipped quickly and with care.

Advantages of 3D Printing in the Automotive Industry

There are many advantages associated with acquiring automotive parts through 3D printing. 3D printing is cost effective by reducing the cost of customized tooling. In the first place, when an individual or company needs a specific part, they may have to pay for customized tooling. However, often the same results are possible and cheaper through 3D printing technology. By simply having a CAD file designed and 3D printed, the customer can receive a nearly identical part with less time and lower price. In this way, 3D printing is a cost-effective choice in many situations.

Secondly, 3D printing is also a time-efficient option for customers. Usually, orders can be expected to ship 4-6 days after ordering. This is often much faster than similar options, like custom tooling or welding jobs, that would be available to acquire a custom part.

Why Is this an Important Part of the Manufacturing Process?

Tooling for the automotive industry is key to keep up with demand and cost requirements for vehicles. The cost must be low in order to make it in the car industry. The current state of the automotive vendor tooling industry is focused on cost effective tooling process and vehicle manufacturing. Automotive tooling is usually defined as tools used to manufacture components for the car market.

This leads to the final main advantage of 3D printing. With a freedom of digital design in a CAD file, customers are able to design any part they require. This means that 3D printing is one of the most customizable options available when it comes to acquiring exact parts for an automobile-related project. These three main advantages to 3D printing include several other related advantages, such as reusable materials and wide availability, that should be considered when looking for a production method.

Tooling for Automotive Supply

3D printed jigs and fixtures can be used to streamline assembly line processes by directing the operations of machinery and other pieces of equipment. Jigs and fixtures can benefit production by providing reliability and repeatable results. By 3D printing your jigs and fixtures, you can ensure your machinery receives these upgrades quickly and with high quality.

3D printed tooling can be used for the complete process, prototyping, and testing new designs in the car world. It is a cheaper and usually faster way to rework and produce new vehicle concepts and designs. After receiving the 3D printed model, producers can test it and easily make changes to the CAD file to improve the function of their design.

Tooling for the Auto Industry

Automotive producers can also create 3D printed molds, tools, and dies for producing complex parts in a cheaper and faster way. Once the 3D mold is created, it can be used repeatedly to produce the required parts consistently and reliably. Molds, tools, and dies are often great options for parts that are needed in great quantity and replicability. Sourcing tooling is usulaly a pain point for a lot of individuals. The tooling spend is also something they have to stay in control of at all times. It is an art to source tooling correctly while keeping tooling spend and tool quality in check.

Digital Solutions for Industry 4.0

One example of a business that has revolutionized their processes with 3D printing is Ford Motor Company. By utilizing additive manufacturing technologies throughout their production lines, they have been able to create parts faster and more reliably. Specifically, when it comes to using 3D printed jigs and fixtures within their assembly lines, Ford Companies has found that they are simpler and more reliable, resulting in a faster and more through process overall. Not only are jigs and fixtures useful in completing processes effectively, but they are also quick to acquire through 3D printing, making the entire process more streamlined and productive.

The Basics of Rapid Tooling in the Automotive Industry

All things considered, 3D printing jigs, fixtures, and other production parts has proven to be a more reliable, efficient, and productive way of creating parts. The advantages of 3D printing in the car makers include lower overall costs, faster prototyping and concept designing, and customized parts that are easier to acquire than through customized tooling.

Conclusion and Services for Build Manufacturing

3D printing has the potential to impact the automotive industry in ways that we may never have though of before. It is possible that, in the future, vehicle production may become so automated that the need for human interaction is eliminated. At the very least, 3D printing seems to be beneficial in many aspects of the manufacturing market.

As this technology gains momentum, many individuals and businesses are ordering parts from companies like JawsTec. Today, you can order parts from us as well, helping your company or projects be completed faster and more efficiently. Visit our instant quote page today!