Ford Sheet Metal Rapid Prototyping

Over the last 100 years or so the ford motor company has gotten really good at stamping sheet metal parts.

Ford sheet metal rapid prototyping.

Ford has introduced a sheet metal process that eliminates the need for expensive dies. Ford s f3t manufacturing tech makes prototyping more rapid. This article provides an overview of some of the technologies used for rp and low volume production of sheet metal. Ford reveals new rapid prototyping and low volume production techniques w video.

To speed up prototyping ford has created a rapid process they call the ford freeform fabrication technology f3t for short. Allowing them to fabricate a three dimensional part from a two dimensional sheet of metal in just hours. Sadly stamping can take up to 6 8 weeks from the time the design leaves the cad station so it s not great for prototyping. We would like to show you a description here but the site won t allow us.

Once fully developed the ford freeform fabrication technology f3t will allow for lower costs and ultrafast delivery times for prototypes that require sheet metal parts up to three business days versus two to six months needed with conventional methods. Posted on july 9 2013 by mcg. Ford engineers are developing a highly flexible first of its kind patented technology to rapidly form sheet metal parts for low volume production applicati. Ford calls this ford freeform fabrication technology f3t.

Here s some interesting new technology that has huge potential all across the automotive specialty industry. Rapid prototyping is a decades long trend in manufacturing but it s gotten special attention. Rapid prototyping rp techniques in the sheet metal forming industry is developed to quickly test the form and fit of new sheet metal products on a prototype basis as well as for production runs characterized by small lot sizes. Rapid prototyping for sheet metal parts posted in the technical forum.

We do not crowd source your components. Boomerang provides quick turnarounds of rapid prototypes sheet metal fabrication as well as low volume production short run assemblies and custom one of a kind products for your next trade show event. By john hewitt on july 4 2013 at 10 25 am. Automotive applications include prototyping concept vehicles and vehicle personalization.

Can do sheet metal stampings in hours instead of weeks. Rapid prototyping for sheet metal components.