Strati (Photo : www.autoblog.com)
3D printing has come a long way in its application in different industries. Local Motors introduced the first 3D-printed car named "Strati," which may soon be available to consumers in the near future.
During the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, the Phoenix-based car company printed the main structure of the vehicle on the spot at the Cobo Hall.
Local Motors told Auto Blog that the Strati is an improved version of Michele Anoe's design, which was submitted for an online community project. The American motor vehicle manufacturer said that the Strati models were being printed in what the firm dubs as a "micro factory," which can potentially generate more than a hundred local job opportunities.
According to Times Free Press, the 3D printed Strati can reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour, which classifies the vehicle as a neighborhood car. The two-seater's 3D printed frame is made out of carbon fiber-infused plastic. 3D printing one Strati can take around 44 hours. After the car's structure is printed, suspension, motor and a car battery is then installed.
Jay Rogers, the Chief Executive Officer of Local Motors, told Times Free Press that one 3D printed Strati will cost around $18,000 up to $30,000.
Aside from the Strati, Local Motors is collaborating with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory from the Department of Energy to feature its additive manufacturing research. The ORNL 3D printed a Shelby Cobra as a tribute to its 50th anniversary.
The 3D printed Shelby, which weighs about 1400 pounds, was done using the Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) machine at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility of the DOE.
