GM Prototyping Taking Less Time and Saving Company Money

Many auto manufacturers remember the days when prototyping of automotive parts took weeks, if not months. Actually, that wasn’t that long ago. With new innovations, however, prototyping takes a fraction of the time now, especially for General Motors. Thanks to the Warren 3D Rapid Prototyping Lab, parts for new Chevy and GM vehicles, including the new Camaro ZL1, can be created and tested effectively without having to create parts by hand.

The Warren 3D Rapid Prototyping Lab employs 15 people from different GM operations. These employees transfer digital designs to the stereo lithography and selective laser sintering machines to create tangible components that require no dedicated tools to create. These components are then tested in various ways.

Parts that are created in the prototyping machines must be smaller than the 500mm x 500mm x 750mm dimensions of the fabrication chambers- dimensions that would seemingly eliminate larger components from being created in the machines. This potential problem has been solved, however. Lab technicians have come up with ways to join smaller parts to make larger components without drilling or otherwise compromising the integrity of the finished product. Components that are created in the prototyping machines are created with such precision that barely any filing or trimming is needed and seems where parts are connected are barely visible.

In addition to creating parts in a fraction of the time, lab technicians have also come up with a way to recycle any excess prototyping material for future use. Originally, only virgin resins were used for this type of prototyping. Now, thanks to the recycling system technicians have come up with, some of the powdered prototyping material can be reused for other prototype components.

Between taking less time to create new products and being able to reuse some raw materials, GM is saving tens of thousands of dollars while creating premium quality products. We’re glad that GM is a front runner when it comes to automotive prototyping technology. We look forward to seeing what new components this new way of prototyping produces. Who knows, maybe with all the money savings will be passed on to consumers in the future.