Guest Magoo Posted July 9, 2013 Posted July 9, 2013 Ford calls this Ford Freeform Fabrication Technology (F3T). It can do sheet metal "stampings" in hours instead of weeks, without expensive dies or tooling or years of training in the metal-forming arts. If this works out, the implications for auto restoration could be big. See how Ford does it with this short video:Video: Ford unveils rapid prototyping for sheet metal parts | Mac's Motor City Garage.com
MochetVelo Posted July 10, 2013 Posted July 10, 2013 Interesting. I always wondered how small-volume body parts are made (Ford Model T parts, for example). Is a full-size stamping die made for each part? Other low-volume methods are hydroforming, superplastic forming and (of course) beating! Here is a video forming a wheel well from an older car: Kirkham University Superplastic Forming Aluminum Coupe Rear Wheel Well - YouTubePhil
Guest Magoo Posted July 10, 2013 Posted July 10, 2013 Interesting. I always wondered how small-volume body parts are made (Ford Model T parts, for example). Is a full-size stamping die made for each part? Other low-volume methods are hydroforming, superplastic forming and (of course) beating! Here is a video forming a wheel well from an older car: Kirkham University Superplastic Forming Aluminum Coupe Rear Wheel Well - YouTubePhilTo my knowledge, all the volume repop sheet metal parts in the biz today are pressings done with dies on big presses in the traditional auto industry manner. Accurate and authentic but requires a substantial investment in mfg. equipment and tooling. One cost savings for short runs involves kirksite dies -- cheaper but short production life. Superplastic and hydroforming require forming dies as well. The interesting and powerful aspect of the method above is it goes straight from art to part with no tools. If you possess the component in math form (or can digitally scan it from an existing part) then this process can hand you a finished part. This is the sheet metal analogue to CNC for machined parts. It doesn't appear ready for deep draws and complex shapes, but stuff like rust repair panels would be a cinch. Will be interesting to see how this progresses.
nickelroadster Posted July 10, 2013 Posted July 10, 2013 The really interesting thing about this type of rapid prototyping is that it is advancing at a rapid rate. Five years from now it will probably be common. Twenty years from now, car clubs may have their own machines. Looking forward to this.
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