German automobile manufacturer Audi AG has expanded production at its Volkswagen Group R8 facility, the Böllinger Höfe, with a separate 3D printing department. “Our goal is to provide our Audi colleagues the 3D printed tool as quickly as possible, thus supporting them in their daily work.” Audi’s Böllinger Höfe has been using FFF/FDM 3D printing for five years to print auxiliary tools within the Audi R8 assembly line. Now, with a separate department focused on manufacturing tools to support production, Hirsh and his team hope to teach their fellow Audi employees how to create such 3D printed instruments. Last year, the Audi Pre-Series Center in Ingolstadt, Germany, continued its collaboration with SLM Solutions to 3D print metal prototypes and spare parts on demand. This includes 3D printed water adapters for the Audi W12 engine manufactured on the SLM280 3D printer. Featured image shows a 3D printed auxiliary tool used on production line machinery.

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