Local Motors, a small U.S. startup, managed to 3D-print a car in less than two days.
It’s called the Strati, and it was unveiled earlier this week at the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago. Local Motors says the project was 18 months in the making and was designed by Michele Anoe, who had her design picked at the end of June out of more than 200 entries from 30 countries.
Local Motors bills the Strati the “world’s first” 3D printed car as every part that isn’t “mechanically involved” is printed in such a way. Think back to 2010, however, and you might remember the Urbee, another car whose components are 3D-printed. However, Local Motors says the Urbee’s creators used 3D printed for just the body panels and features, rather than the entire car.
According to Gizmag, the Strati is built in three particular phases. The body is first printed using something called a Big Area Additive Manufacturing machine. The rest of the components are then manufactured with a CNC routing machine before they’re finally put together with additional components over two days. In total, the Strati takes about 44 hours to print, one day to mill and two days to assemble.
Beneath its 3D printed body, the Local Motors Strati is powered by an electric drivetrain from a Renault Twizy, enabling it to travel up to 40 miles per hour and travel up to 120 miles on one charge.
