Team Penske Has Incorporated its First SLA 3D Printer Into Production Processes

3D printing is becoming an increasingly coveted technology in the automotive sector, especially for the big teams. This is because it can reduce the time needed to produce parts so they can be tested more quickly. For Team Penske, a legendary American motorsports team with 38 national championships to their name, the love affair with additive manufacturing began five years ago, specifically with 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys. The team has integrated 3D printing into its manufacturing process. According to the team, the technology has become an essential part of the team’s development.

That’s why it recently announced a new partnership with the manufacturer. Stratasys will be supplying a Neo800 3D printer to add to the team’s growing collection. The team uses mostly FDM and Polyjet 3D printers, so this is the first time they will turn to SLA as well. It will be used to manufacture model components for aerodynamic testing.

Penske warehouse where Stratasys 3D printers are installed (photo credits: Stratasys)

Penske Wants to Increase its Production Capacity

With the Neo800, the Penske team will have a large printing volume of 800 x 800 x 600 mm. This makes it ideal for producing large parts with good surface quality and fine details. In addition, it incorporates a beam distribution system that allows for high dimensional accuracy. In terms of materials, the Stratasys Neo800 Printer is open and compatible with all 355nm SL resins available on the market today. This will allow the stable to expand its range of applications.

With the acquisition of this new 3D printer, Team Penske hopes to develop ever faster cars. Stratasys’ task is to help the team achieve excellence. Matt Gimbel, production manager at Team Penske, concludes, “As additive manufacturing’s applications continue evolving in racing, Stratasys continues to help us rapidly improve race performance ahead of the competition so we can turn ideas into parts and get them onto the racetrack faster than ever before and with greater reliability than ever before. We can now make parts in ways not possible through traditional manufacturing.” More information on the Stratasys and Team Penske partnership HERE.

But Penske is not the only example of this. Increasingly, the automotive industry and 3D printing are going hand in hand. Major teams such as Williams Racing, Renault and McLaren Racing are using this technology to improve their production capabilities. To win a race, you have to be at the forefront of innovation and be able to offer cars that are both fast and robust. As a result, additive manufacturing is doing well compared to traditional construction processes.

What do you think about the use of 3D printing to improve the cars of the big teams in the automotive sector? Let us know in a comment below or on our Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.

*Cover Photo Credits: Stratasys