The 1965 Shelby Cobra is truly a vintage sportscar, and one that recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory took it upon itself to create a 3D-printed replica of the iconic vehicle for display at the Detroit Auto Show. Incredibly, this project took only six weeks from conception to finished product, and both celebrates the Shelby Cobra while also showing off modern additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping technology.
The team took just 24 hours to print the 1965 Shelby Cobra's parts, 8 hours to print the tooling components and 4 hours to put together the bodywork, which was given a Class A automotive finish by Knoxville-based company TruDesign.
Iconic 3D-Printed Cars
This Replica 1965 Shelby Cobra Was 3D-Printed
Trend Themes
1. 3D Printing in Automotive - Opportunity to disrupt traditional manufacturing with the use of 3D printing technology in automotive industry.
2. Rapid Prototyping - Allows for faster and more efficient development of prototypes, opening up possibilities for innovation and experimentation.
3. Additive Manufacturing - Advancements in additive manufacturing technology enabling the creation of complex and detailed automotive parts.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive - Potential for revolutionizing the production process and design capabilities in the automotive industry.
2. Manufacturing - Disrupting traditional manufacturing processes with the adoption of 3D printing and rapid prototyping.
3. Design and Engineering - Innovative opportunities in the field of design and engineering through the application of additive manufacturing.