Strati:"First printed car , with just 49 parts."
American company Local Motors has built the world's first
3-D printed car, made from a mix of carbon fibre and plastic.Local Motors engineer James Earl was part of the team which followed the design process from its beginnings in May this year.
The car's body was created over two days, in a giant printer at a Chicago trade show.It then took one day to refine the shape and two days to assemble the lightweight vehicle... which weighs in around 1,000 kilograms.Although other car parts have been printed before, this is the first time a car chassis has been printed in one piece, using direct digital manufacturing.Only a few parts, like the electric engine, suspension and tyres, were made using traditional methods.
Called the 'Strati', the Italian word for 'layers', the battery-powered car can reach speeds of 65 kilometres per hour. Local Motors says the Strati will retail for around $20,000,although it is not yet allowed on actual roads.It expects that approval will come soon.
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