Design challenge

A design competition for first 3D printed car

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local-motors-3d-printed-car-design-challenge-1Local Motors launches the 3D Printed Car Design Challenge, that will be manufactured at International Manufacturing Technology Show 2014 in Chicago, Illinois, September 8-13, 2014. The six-week competition will run through May 13, 2014. The winner design will be announced on May 30, 2014 and will be awarded more than $10,000 in prize money. Initial challenge will inspire the overall design of the vehicle.

“Historically, producing a new vehicle from a new design has represented a significant investment in tooling and a large commitment in time to integrate multiple structures and components,” said Jay Rogers, Local Motors CEO. “This effort to design and deliver the first co-created vehicle using this digital technology and manufacturing process could change the process and speed in which vehicles are designed and built.”

Launched just two months after Local Motors announced partnerships with the US Department of ORNL (Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory) and AMT (Association For Manufacturing Technology), the design competition of 3D printed car will try to define innovations in the methodology associated with incorporating additive and 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.

Designers interested to enter in the competition are required to submit three distinct views of their project (side, ¾ front and ¾ rear), one mise-en-scene view and a description of the benefits and innovations associated with the concept. The designs will be voted on by the Local Motors Community on the website www.localmotors.com, and judged by an independent panel of experts led by Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot and Local Motors Board Member.