The two times I visited Koenigsegg’s facility in Angelholm, I came away thinking “this is car-making on a completely different level”. Very few people – not companies, but people – can do what Christian von Koenigsegg can do to optimise a car.
This video extends that idea. It extends the whole idea of 3D printing, too. They’re not just doing the stuff you’ve heard about, like printing plastic prototype parts. They’re actually 3D printing real parts in titanium, including stuff that gets stressed like turbo housings.
If you’re an engineering type, you’ll get this. In fact, I have a friend who works with this stuff and he’ll quite possibly yawn his way through it. Actually, I have to go visit his workplace one day and see this stuff in action.
If you’re a non-engineering type (like me), then prepare yourself to be amazed at how technology is completely changing the car business. This is an expensive process suited to (very) expensive cars right now but the trickle-down should happen and it’ll probably be sooner than you think.
I’ll stop rambling. Watch the video. It blew my mind. I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did.
Printing up 3D ABS parts is now possible for anyone who wants to spend $2K on a decent printer. My students are having a great time exploring what is possible with theirs and the only limitation seems to be your creativity and how much plastic there is on the spool!
Great article SW. Keep ’em coming. Nice reading too from the Outback, where all I see are red dusted white Patrols and Pajeros towing massive motorhomes from outer-space….
….yawn…. : )
Ha ha ha ha…..
You printing in Titanium yet? If so, I’ll have a wanky Porsche doorknocker for the front door of the house, please.
Minty.
It goes without saying, but Christian von Koenigsegg is a very bright man, and his single-minded focus is impressive. I compare him to Steve Jobs for his deep knowledge of the technology and a simultaneous attention to the real-world details that make his product great.
So… when are we going to see that Spyker/Koenigsegg collaboration project? 😉
Great analogy. This man is definitely on a different level. He just continues to amaze.
It was impressing, because 3D printing metal has to be zoo expensive that I never heard of that before 😉
Nevertheless if you only build a handful of cars the tooling costs will always be even more expensive than the real part costs, thus making this extra expensive 3D printing interesting.
What I like from C.v.K. is that not only he produces incredible cars, but he has also understood the relevance of a hyper car in the car industry as ambassador for the latest technologies. So in other words the One:1 is a proof of concept of what is technologically possible, yet too expensive for normal cars.
He’s the ultimate guinea pig.
And the toys he gets to play with!! I bet he’s laser scanned a family member at least once, just to give them a laugh as they see themselves get printed.