Industrial Laser Solutions

First 3D-printed car is the focus of Local Motors design challenge

April 25, 2014

Local Motors has launched a 3D Printed Car Design Challenge to inform and influence the design of the vehicle that will be manufactured at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), to be held September 8-13, 2014, in Chicago, IL.

Phoenix, AZ - Local Motors has launched a 3D Printed Car Design Challenge to inform and influence the design of the vehicle that will be manufactured at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), to be held September 8-13, 2014, in Chicago, IL. The six-week challenge is running through May 13th; more than $10,000 in prize money will be awarded for winning challenge entries, which will be announced on May 30th.

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Launched just two months after Local Motors announced partnerships with the US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL; Oak Ridge, TN) and the Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT; McLean, VA), the 3D Printed Car Design Challenge will seek to define innovations in the methodology associated with incorporating additive manufacturing—as well as subtractive manufacturing—methods in vehicle design and development. Though this manufacturing method is compatible with any powertrain solution, for this first vehicle project Local Motors has chosen to power the vehicle with a battery electric drive system.

This effort will also include the engagement of ORNL partner Cincinnati Inc. and their Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) machine. The machine pioneers the use of large-scale 3D printing technology, and is focused on packaging a complete digital manufacturing process in the first machine of its kind.

To enter the challenge, designers are required to submit three distinct views of their project (side, 3/4 front, and 3/4 rear), one mise-en-scene view, and a description of the benefits and innovations associated with the concept.

Challenge submissions will be voted on by the Local Motors Community on localmotors.com, and judged by an independent panel of experts led by Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot and Local Motors Board Member. One challenge submission will be selected as the overall winner, and will be awarded a $5,000 cash prize plus a trip to IMTS to participate in the printing of the first vehicle. Up to five “Innovation Awards” winners will receive cash prizes of $1,000 each for exceptional ideas or usages specific to the 3D-printing process. One award for “Community Favorite,” based on voting by the Local Motors Community, will also be awarded a $1,000 cash prize.

For more information on the challenge, please visit http://youtu.be/Mb3LK6SM1-Y.