Ford Sheet Metal Rapid Prototyping

See how ford does it with this short video video.

Ford sheet metal rapid prototyping.

Ford engineers are developing a highly flexible first of its kind patented technology to rapidly form sheet metal parts for low volume production applicati. Rapid prototyping for sheet metal parts posted in the technical forum. We do not crowd source your components. Allowing them to fabricate a three dimensional part from a two dimensional sheet of metal in just hours.

Ford s f3t manufacturing tech makes prototyping more rapid. Ford reveals new rapid prototyping and low volume production techniques w video. 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. Rapid prototyping is a decades long trend in manufacturing but it s gotten special attention.

By john hewitt on july 4 2013 at 10 25 am. Ford has introduced a sheet metal process that eliminates the need for expensive dies. 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. Can do sheet metal stampings in hours instead of weeks.

Ford calls this ford freeform fabrication technology f3t. Automotive applications include prototyping concept vehicles and vehicle personalization. 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. Here s some interesting new technology that has huge potential all across the automotive specialty industry.

To speed up prototyping ford has created a rapid process they call the ford freeform fabrication technology f3t for short. This article provides an overview of some of the technologies used for rp and low volume production of sheet metal. Over the last 100 years or so the ford motor company has gotten really good at stamping sheet metal parts. Posted on july 9 2013 by mcg.

We would like to show you a description here but the site won t allow us. We fabricate finish and deliver your parts from our facility in west bend wisconsin.