{"id":10868,"date":"2018-12-24T01:00:30","date_gmt":"2018-12-24T01:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/?p=10868"},"modified":"2018-12-24T06:26:22","modified_gmt":"2018-12-24T06:26:22","slug":"bmw-3d-printing-additive-manufacturing-241220184","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/bmw-3d-printing-additive-manufacturing-241220184\/","title":{"rendered":"Why does BMW bet on additive manufacturing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Large industrial groups are among the first users of additive manufacturing, convinced of the advantages that technology offers today. The German group BMW is a perfect example of this.\u00a0While announcing the opening of a\u00a0new additive manufacturing center<\/a>\u00a0in 2019, they recently presented their\u00a03D printed chassis<\/a>\u00a0motorcycle prototype, thus pushing their design limits.\u00a0For 25 years, the car manufacturer has been integrating additive manufacturing solutions into its production cycle and intends to continue these developments to offer more innovative and efficient vehicles.\u00a0We met Dr. Jens Ertel, Manager of the BMW Additive Manufacturing Center to learn more about the group’s projects and ambitions, and why BMW 3D printing is not a bet but an investment.<\/p>\n

3DN: Can you introduce yourself and explain how BMW relates to 3D printing?<\/h3>\n

I am Dr. Jens Ertel;\u00a0I studied physics at the University of G\u00f6ttingen with a specialty in materials and obtained my doctorate in 1993. I started my career in the industry two years later when I joined the BMW group.\u00a0I held various management positions in the areas of laboratory technology and quality assurance.\u00a0In 2012, I became head of the additive manufacturing center of the BMW Group, where I am responsible for the development of 3D technologies, prototyping and mass production.\u00a0In 2019, I will manage the new Additive Manufacturing Campus of the BMW Group.<\/p>\n

\n

\"bmw

Dr. Jens Ertel<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n

At BMW, we have been using additive manufacturing since 1991, so for over 25 years.\u00a0At that time, we started by producing\u00a0prototypes for concept cars.\u00a0This early use of 3D technologies has given us a big advance in 3D printing in recent years.<\/p>\n

3DN: In which areas does BMW use additive manufacturing?\u00a0What are the benefits of using 3D printing, especially in the automotive sector, compared to traditional production processes?<\/h3>\n

Today, the scope of our functions is much more diversified and goes from the production of spare parts for classic vehicles to tools through the parts we create for the mass production of vehicles.\u00a0Because additive manufacturing offers more freedom in design, we have developed new approaches in terms of functionality and design.\u00a0Recently, our MINI customers have the opportunity to\u00a0customize their vehicle<\/a> by designing the passenger-side sideband in the cockpit and the side inserts themselves.\u00a0The pieces are then printed individually by us.\u00a0Components are available in just a few days compared to conventional production methods.\u00a0These last require us to calculate a tooling time often long.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
\n

\"bmw

MINI customers will be able to customize their car<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n

Our additive manufacturing center processes approximately 30,000 prototyping projects per year and produces more than 140,000 components.\u00a0On the one hand, we use advanced 3D printing technologies and we also collaborate with external partners on new technologies.<\/p>\n

3DN: Can you introduce us to the 3D printed motorcycle chassis project?\u00a0What technologies, materials and processes were used for this specific project?<\/h3>\n

Our experts at BMW Motorrad, the additive manufacturing and generative design department, worked on a conceptual study and jointly developed ideas on how motorcycle frames could be created in the future.\u00a0Based on the stiffness and weight requirements of the component, they developed a complex structure from generative design algorithms.\u00a0The geometry of this component is very complex, we are only interested in 3D printing.\u00a0We turned to\u00a0selective laser sintering<\/a>\u00a0and opted for aluminum.\u00a0It’s a research project and the bike is not marketed today.<\/p>\n

\n

\"bmw

The BMW chassis<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n

3DN: Can you tell us more about BMW’s new additive manufacturing campus?<\/h3>\n

In this new campus, we will continue to develop our expertise in additive manufacturing.\u00a0It will focus on the production of prototypes, serial parts and custom vehicles.\u00a0In its pre-development areas, new technologies will be tested by startups such as\u00a0Desktop Metal<\/a>\u00a0or Carbon.\u00a0We will also introduce new automation concepts, which will enable cost-effective production of mass-produced components and help accelerate the development of cars.<\/p>\n

\"bmw<\/figure>\n

We expect synergies between common projects along the entire process chain, from materials to technology to IT systems.\u00a0As a result, our partners are now learning about the demands of automotive production and, thanks to rapid access to new technologies, we take into account process specificities right from the start.<\/p>\n

Within our production network, the new campus, as a pilot plant, will advance new additive manufacturing technologies and make them available to our entire network.\u00a0You can always visit our\u00a0official website<\/a>\u00a0for more information!<\/p>\n

\n

\"bmw

Photo credits: BMW<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n

What do you think of the use of the BMW 3D printing?\u00a0Let us know what you think in a comment below or on our\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0pages!\u00a0Don\u2019t forget to sign up for our free weekly\u00a0Newsletter<\/a>, with all the latest news in 3D printing delivered straight to your inbox!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Large industrial groups are among the first users of additive manufacturing, convinced of the advantages that technology offers today. The German group BMW is a perfect example of this.\u00a0While announcing the opening of a\u00a0new additive manufacturing center\u00a0in 2019, they recently…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6060,"featured_media":10871,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-interview","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10868","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6060"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10868"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10868\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10874,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10868\/revisions\/10874"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10868"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10868"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10868"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}