3D Programs and Daimler Buses Group up for Spare Half Manufacturing – 3DPrint.com

3D Programs and Daimler Truck and Buses have launched a brand new method to produce spare elements utilizing 3D printing. Their resolution decentralizes manufacturing, permitting elements to be printed on-demand, nearer to the place they’re wanted. The end result guarantees sooner repairs, much less downtime, and extra environment friendly provide chains for buses, vehicles, and motor coaches.

This partnership additionally consists of contributions from Oqton and Wibu-Programs. Oqton simplifies the 3D printing course of with its 3DXpert software program, whereas Wibu-Programs ensures Daimler Buses’ mental property (IP) is protected by securing and controlling entry to design recordsdata. Total, these firms have mixed their experience to develop a system that would change how the transportation business does upkeep and spare half manufacturing.

Fixing Provide Chain Issues

In conventional techniques, changing a single vital half—like a pin or a canopy— in business autos may cause main delays. Components typically must be ordered from suppliers, resulting in weeks of downtime for buses or vehicles. This downtime means increased prices for firms and longer waits for purchasers.

With this new 3D printing resolution, licensed companions in Daimler Buses’ community can now print these elements regionally. It’s at the moment obtainable to licensed service suppliers by way of Daimler Buses’ Omniplus 3D Printing License eShop.

Whereas the precise pricing for licenses and {hardware} integration has not been disclosed, Daimler Buses plans to increase the system’s attain shortly, together with further 3D printing applied sciences for broader purposes. The companions declare that this drastically reduces ready occasions, slicing supply delays by as much as 75%. Autos get again on the highway sooner, saving cash and bettering service for firms within the business car business.

“We’re very happy that we’re increasing the revolutionary resolution with 3D Programs and realizing our imaginative and prescient for decentralized spare elements manufacturing,” stated Ralf Anderhofstadt, head of the middle of competence additive manufacturing at Daimler Truck and Buses. “The Digital Rights Administration permits us to shorten service occasions by way of decentralized manufacturing in an effort to additional maximize productiveness and income for business car firms. As well as, the wise use of commercial 3D printing ends in decreasing the complexity within the provide chains. By our collaboration with 3D Programs, Oqton and Wibu-Programs, we’re setting one other essential milestone within the growth of decentralized 3D printing manufacturing.”

Mercedes Benz truck. Picture courtesy of Daimler Truck.

How It Works

The method begins with a digital file for a spare half, which Daimler Buses shares securely by way of its Omniplus 3D Printing License eShop. Licensed service suppliers should purchase licenses for elements and print them utilizing 3D Programs’ industrial-grade SLS 380 3D printer.

To guard Daimler’s IP, the system makes use of Wibu-Programs’ digital rights administration instruments. These instruments be sure that approved printers can solely use recordsdata within the precise portions wanted. This safety prevents unauthorized replica of designs whereas sustaining the integrity of Daimler’s expertise.

At present, the answer focuses on 3D Programs’ SLS 380 printer, which produces high-quality plastic elements. Nonetheless, future updates may embody different 3D Programs printers, even those who print with steel, making the system extra versatile.

SLS 380 printer. Picture courtesy of 3D Programs.

This innovation goes past simply saving time. It represents a change in how firms strategy manufacturing and upkeep. By permitting localized manufacturing, the system would scale back reliance on world provide chains. This resilience is particularly vital at occasions when provide chain disruptions can have an effect on whole industries.

Jaime Garcia, additive options supervisor at 3D Programs, defined, “This isn’t simply adopting new expertise—it’s reshaping the provision chain for better resilience and effectivity.”

Streamlining the Workflow

A vital a part of the system is Oqton’s 3DXpert software program. This all-in-one platform simplifies the 3D printing course of, from designing an element to getting ready it for printing. Service suppliers can shortly decrypt recordsdata for the precise elements they want and start manufacturing instantly.

The collaboration additionally prioritizes flexibility. Service bureaus or bus firms don’t have to overhaul their current techniques to undertake this resolution. In actual fact, they merely combine the 3DXpert software program and licensed 3D printers into their workflow.

Mercedes-Benz eCitaro. Picture courtesy of Daimler Truck.

The automotive business has more and more embraced 3D printing as a method to streamline manufacturing and decrease prices. Using additive manufacturing on this sector is predicted to develop, and 3D Programs is getting ready to be on the forefront. The corporate supplies not solely the {hardware} and supplies for printing but additionally the software program and experience wanted to implement these options. Greater than something, this partnership with Daimler Buses is a good instance of how 3D printing is transferring past prototypes to full-scale, purposeful manufacturing.

This collaboration additionally highlights the significance of defending mental property in a decentralized system. Wibu-Programs’ digital rights administration ensures that solely licensed companions can entry and use Daimler’s designs. This sort of safety is important as industries undertake digital manufacturing strategies.

As the answer expands to incorporate extra varieties of 3D printers, the potential purposes will develop. For instance, including steel 3D printing may enable for the manufacturing of extra advanced or sturdy elements. For now, the system is targeted on pins, covers, and inserts for underhood and cabin inside purposes. Nonetheless, as 3D printing expertise advances, there’s no restrict to what might be produced on demand.