Slashdot Mirror
Porsche Is 3D Printing Hard-To-Find Parts For The 959 And Other Classics (jalopnik.com)
Porsche Classic, Porsche's classic cars division, has turned to 3D printing obscure parts that people might need on occasion. From a report: They already have about 52,000 parts available, but for the truly arcane ones, it's cheaper to 3D print them than make the specialized tools to create them over again. In addition to that 959 lever, Porsche is also 3D printing eight other parts. They are made from steel and alloy and the plastics are made using an selective laser sintering printer, which Porsche describes as: "A process where the material is heated to just below melting point and the remaining energy is applied through a laser to fuse the plastic powder at a selected point." So there you have it! The next time something is busted on your 959 or 356, don't cry and abandon the car, stalled on the side of the road. Call up Porsche. They'll science something for you.
As a gear head, I can't wait until metal printing is affordable. Unobtanium parts are bane of my existence.
Have we already gone full-on idiocracyin just 12 years?
Because they didn't need them anymore.
German efficiency + implementing Japanese Lean methodology , if you don't need it anymore get rid of it as it will be wasting space.
For these older models, they don't need the space for a full production line. As most people will go to the Junk Yard to get the missing part. Offering 3d Printing of the part is probably the most affordable way to do it. As custom tooling a part will be wicked expensive.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Aahh... no.
Porsche - or at least Porsche North America - got out of the 356 parts business around 2000, and sold all remaining NOS stock to Stoddard
Fortunately, I have all the weird and special bits and pieces for my 356c coupe- and there are some skilled artisans making 3rd party metal parts for what I'll have to replace eventually (door skins, etc)
Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
Nothing from the Porsche press release indicated anything about chrome parts. Appears to just be iron, plastic, and steel components.
They didn't take it out back & blow it up, but machining tools don't last forever.
Some of them were probably used (with modifications) in subsequent model years, most of them just wore out & weren't replaced since they weren't making that exact part anymore. For the rest, molds and tooling takes up space or rust and the materials they're made out of can be recycled into new parts. There isn't a lot of money to be made in keeping tooling for a 30+ year old car that they only made about 300 of to begin with.
You wouldn't download a car.
But you will.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
three-second youtube clip
And here's Obama saying it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?... (about 1 minute in. But he modifies the line to "going to science the heck out of this").
I can't wait for a torrent where I can just download the plans and print out a 911 turbo.
You only know about PLA and you apply that knowledge to everything that says "3D printed".
Fascinating.
#DeleteFacebook
Completely valid life choice there. Don't judge them. :P
You can always sell old tooling to retro parts makers.
Good point. This constant need to drag politics into every single discussion is beyond annoying.
They'll science something for you.
This sounds more like engineering than science -- 3d printers and laser heating sounds more like an application of engineering than science.
There's a ridiculous amount of money in supporting hundreds of rare, valuable cars.
If there are thousands and millions of examples, you've got competition: Everyone and their brother will be making parts that compete with your own. Hundreds, though? That's a captive market and you can name your price.
Kid-proof tablet..
the unabomber built pipe ones in his small shack with no grid power
I can finally get parts for my Porsche collection said no Slashdot member ever.
We'll make great pets
Exactly. 3D printing doesn't really offer anything for bomb makers. Except for having them spend a lot of money for something that provides no tangible benefit.
and sintered metal isn't ever going to be as strong as forged for making guns.
Clearly the specialised tools existed at the time the car was manufactured, so why do these tools no longer exist? Were they destroyed?
Surely it would make sense to keep such things for production of classic parts, especially for a manufacturer like Porsche.
http://spamdecoy.net - free throwaway anonymous email - avoid spam!
Cobalt Chromium is one of the most frequently printed metals. It is being widely used for 3D printed medical implants. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Depends.
If he would be trying to *sell* the parts for a profit on some eBay-liexpress-mazon website :
Yes, he would be probably infringing some patents and/or trademarks.
That's not different from current chinese crappy-cheap knock offs sold on the same site.
Except that the guy is probably located in a jurisdiction where enforcing IP rights would be easier for Porsche.
If he is building them himself to use them :
Nope fat chance. In most sane jurisdiction, 3D printing his own parts to repair a car would fall under the same situation as making some elements out of acrylic/plywood/moldign them himself/cutting the metal, etc.
As long as the vehicle still passes inspection and is considered streetworthy, it's okay.
The laws would need to be changed.
- trying to bring some new **AA-like laws to make home printing illegal. (But goodluck enforcing it, short of passing a law making mandatory to register every single 3D printer, including self-made ones). <- I still see this as a probability, but coming more with "Think of the children !" hysteria regarding home printing of weapons.
- trying to make "streetworthiness criteria" much more stringent and to refuse any part that isn't provided (3d printed or not) by the original manufacturer. <- this looks to me as a liekly scenario, specially in IP lawsuit happy jurisdictions like the US.
"Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
I have a 1972 Eldorado convertible. It doesn't have excessive plastic, but some parts, such as the molding next to the back seat, which also holds the latch for the parade boot, are showing their age (and then some: that part showed it by disintegrating when I tuned the latch).
Being able to print these would be a big deal. Cadillac isn't going to make any more, and it would be prohibitively expensive if they did. But if a straightforward ways mad to scan these, printing would be a truly desirable option.
hawk
parts. I.e. the parts that don't have extreme strength requirements, don't need to be uber precise, and don't need to be made of an alloy that 3D printers don't use...
This is a little more practical maybe. http://www.weybridgeusedcars.c...