Deal marks Autodesk’s first industrial application of its open 3D
printing platform to solve challenges in large format 3D printing
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 15, 2014--
Earlier this year, Autodesk
announced
plans to introduce Spark, a new open platform for 3D printing, aimed at
making it simpler and more reliable to print 3D models and easier to
control how that model is printed. Now, Autodesk is collaborating with Local
Motors, the leader in open-source hardware innovation, to utilize
the Spark platform as Local Motors continues to develop the Strati, the
world’s first 3D printed car.
Autodesk and Local Motors collaborate on first industrial application of Spark, the open 3D printing platform to solve challenges in large format 3D printing (Photo: Business Wire)
“The Spark platform is set to accelerate manufacturing innovation,” said
Alex Fiechter, head of community management for Local Motors. “From
capturing our ideas more accurately to guiding Design for Additive
Manufacturing (DFAM) and simplifying the creation of machine code, Spark
will help us to turn digital models into an actual physical production
parts far faster than was previously possible.”
The recently unveiled Strati is being developed by Local Motors team at
the DOE’s Manufacturing
Demonstration Facility (MDF) at Oak
Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), one of the nation’s leading
innovation centers around additive manufacturing. The Strati vehicle
design was chosen from entries submitted by Local Motors’ global
co-creation community and as the project progresses Local Motors plans
to use the Spark platform, which will make it the first large-scale
industrial application of Spark.
“Local Motors recognizes the capabilities of the Spark platform for
industrial manufacturing projects,” said Samir Hanna, vice president and
general manager, Autodesk. “This collaboration is a natural fit to push
the boundaries of large format 3D printing to fundamentally change how
things are designed and made.”
ORNL and Cincinnati
Incorporated created a BAAM (Big Area Additive Manufacturing)
machine similar to a fused deposition modeling (FDM) printer by taking a
6.5’ x 13’ foot bed laser cutter adding custom hardware to transform it
into a massive 3D printer. Spark will help connect automobile digital
design information to the 3D printer in a streamlined way for easier
visualization and optimization of 3D prints.
According to Local Motors, the Strati simplifies the automotive assembly
process and is a result of leveraging the contributions of community,
advanced manufacturing tools, and software, like the Spark platform.
This could bring many advantages, including reduction in by decreasing
the number of parts in a vehicle’s Bill of Materials (BOM) from 25,000
components to less than 50. The on-demand nature of 3D printing means
that automotive manufacturers can change aspects of their design—or even
come up with an entirely new one—with little or no additional cost in
tooling or time.
About Autodesk
Autodesk helps people imagine, design and create a better world.
Everyone—from design professionals, engineers and architects to digital
artists, students and hobbyists—uses Autodesk software to unlock their
creativity and solve important challenges. For more information visit
autodesk.com or follow @autodesk.
About Local Motors
From bytes-to-bits, the Local Motors platform empowers anyone to design,
build, and sell the world’s coolest machines. The platform combines
global co-creation and local micro-manufacturing to bring hardware
innovations to market at unprecedented speed. The Company stewards a
global co-creation community made up of enthusiasts, hobbyist innovators
and professionals that come together to solve complex mechanical
problems. The Company operates a growing global network of
micro-factories, each operating as a nexus for next generation product
development, where innovators create amazing products and consumers come
to marvel and shop.
Learn more at localmotors.com.
Autodesk is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its
subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All
other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their
respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and
services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without
notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors
that may appear in this document.
© 2014 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20140915005430/en/
Source: Autodesk, Inc.
Autodesk, Inc.
Jennifer Gentrup, 415-547-2435
jennifer.gentrup@autodesk.com
or
Local
Motors
Kate Hartley, 480-717-0624
khartley@local-motors.com
Taylor
Alexander, 480-824-8409
talexander@local-motors.com