The company is taking a practical approach with 3D printed production, trying to answer the question: Can additive manufacturing fit into GM’s overall manufacturing world. “We’re looking at 3D printing with sobering analysis rather than hype. We’re disciplined in making sure there is a real business case,” Ron Daul, GM’s director of additive manufacturing, told
Design News. “We’re looking at quality challenges. Vehicle quality is important, so we’re looking whether 3D printing can fit with our internal standards and safety standards to see if additive manufacturing is right for us.”
Materials Matter
Part of the process of evaluating additive manufacturing is looking at the available materials. “We’ve educated our engineers about additive, and now we’re educating our suppliers and learning from our suppliers,” said Daul. “We’re developing an ecosystem that includes metals and polymers.”
GM opens 3D printing facility in Detroit December 23, 2020 Stephen Law
General Motors announced the opening of the 15,000-square-foot Additive Industrialization Center (AIC), a ground-up facility in Detroit MI exclusively dedicated to productionizing 3D printing technology in the automotive industry. The AIC is the capstone of GM’s expertise and increased investment in 3D printing over the last several years.
“The core component of GM’s transformation is becoming a more agile, innovative company, and 3D printing will play a critical role in that mission,” said Audley Brown, GM director of Additive Design and Materials Engineering. “Compared to traditional processes, 3D printing can produce parts in a matter of days versus weeks or months at a significantly lower cost.”
GM’s new 3D printing shop will speed up production, cut costs By Jamie L. LaReau, Detroit Free Press
Published: December 20, 2020, 6:02am
Share: Cadillac V-Series 3D printed HVAC ducts and electrical harness bracket made at the GM Additive Industrialization Center at the GM Tech Center in Warren, Michigan. (Steve Fecht/General Motors/TNS)
General Motors is increasing its use of 3D printing across more production vehicles with a new 3D printing shop at its Global Technical Center in Warren, Mich.
The Additive Industrialization Center (AIC), which GM is just opening, will use 3D printing to make more production and car parts that will save the automaker money and speed up vehicle development, the automaker said Monday.
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
General Motors Manufacturing Engineer Benjamin LeBlanc inspects a 3D printer at the General Motors Additive Industrialization Center at the GM Tech Center in Warren, Michigan. (Steve Fecht/General Motors/TNS)
GM’s new 3D printing shop will speed up production, cut costs
General Motors is increasing its use of 3D printing across more production vehicles with a new 3D printing shop at its Global Technical Center in Warren, Mich.
The Additive Industrialization Center (AIC), which GM is just opening, will use 3D printing to make more production and car parts that will save the automaker money and speed up vehicle development, the automaker said Monday.