Growing with successful cooperations, 3D printing brings EOS’ engineering expert together with Audi’s automotive leadership. It is considered that this venture will open new doors for 3D automotive projects.
Following technology very closely, Audi trusts EOS’ engineering technology for developing its 3D production capacity. EOS which Audi started a collaboration to get support in metal printing applications, will help Audi in manufacturing process.
Dr. Stefan Bindl, Team Manager Innovation Center, Additive Minds, commented: “Audi was looking for a reliable development partner and has found that in EOS. We are very happy about that. The close cooperation concerning application and process development as well as internal knowledge building makes a significant contribution, which is why Audi can quickly achieve substantial effects for their own business by applying our technology.” And he adds: “Obviously, the geographical proximity to one another facilitates our close cooperation significantly.”
Jörg Spindler, Head of Toolmaking, Audi, said: “We have set up our own competence center for 3D printing in order to gain experience with the materials and the process, and to further develop them for series production. A close cooperation with AM solution providers such as EOS, who can support innovation in technology development, is essential for these aims. With this technology we are able to integrate internal structures and functions in tools that we have not been able to create so far with conventional manufacturing methods. Especially with components in small batches, we can now produce components using lightweight construction, quickly and economically based on this technology.
The Most Trustworthy Partner for Audi
In application of additive manufacturing, Audi is also focusing on the production of inserts for die casting molds and hot working segments. The company can positively influence the process of series production by conformal cooling, producing parts and vehicle components more cost-effectively. This is made possible by using highly complex, additively manufactured cooling channels, which are tailored to the component and could not be implemented conventionally before. Specifically, the optimized cooling performance leads to a reduction of the cycle time by 20 percent which has a positive effect on the energy consumption and cost efficiency of the components at the same time.
Güngör Kara, director of global application and consulting, said: “The aim is to not only supply Audi with the right additive systems and processes but to also support them during applications development, when building up internal AM knowledge and training their engineers to become in-house AM experts.”
Audi already works closely with EOS and industrial 3D printing has been applied to equipment and prototype building at Audi. The company has also set up its own competence centre for 3D printing in order to gain experience with the materials and the process, and to further develop them for series production.