From the transformation of the traditional technology of the Motopropulseur group to electrification, from traditional transport to “third living space”, from traditional treatment technology to emerging manufacturing models … The world automotive industry is experiencing a triple wave of transformation of the revolution of the electrical system, the reconstruction of the form of product and the manufacturing of manufacturing technology.
As a reference company for the digital transformation of automotive manufacturing in China, Faw-Volkswagen has systematically favored the application of 3D printing technology since 2005-
- In 2005, a production system for digital prototypes was built and the Changchun Development Department of Faw-Volkswagen obtained rapid parts and a manufacturing of prototypes with an annual production capacity of more than 500 parts through FDM technology (melting of fusion deposit);
- In 2017, the test production process was upgraded and Faw Volkswagen introduced Huashu Hi-Tech SS402P selective sintering equipment, which considerably helped to considerably shorten the Concept-Car development production cycle;
- In 2022, with a breakthrough in high precision manufacturing, the Volkswagen automobile (Anhui) once again introduced more than 9,000 car pieces, tool accessories and Huashu inspection tools, and consuming more than 1 ton of powder materials;
- In 2025, Volkswagen (China) Technology Co., Ltd. Officially deployed the 3D Huashu Hi-Tech 3D Metal 3D FS273M-2 printing equipment, which is used for the production of correspondences and verification of automotive metal parts, high resistance automotive tools, special tools and inspection tools.
Currently, the potential of 3D printing in the field of automotive tools and lighting has gone from a local pilot to a large -scale application. Its fundamental value lies in the rupture of the constraints of traditional manufacturing and the promotion of the transformation of automotive manufacturing into flexible, light and durable.
What is the current application status of 3D printing technology in automotive production? What are the advantages and disadvantages of lights and 3D printing tool inspection? Wu Hongtao, an expert in 3D prints at Volkswagen (China) Technology Co., Ltd., who has been in the industry for 20 years, listed for us the examples of 3D printing application in Automobile Research and Development, as well as his future in the automotive industry.
Mr. Wu Hongtao has been engaged in 3D printing since 2005 and successively served Faw-Volkswagen Co., Ltd., Volkswagen (China) Technology Co., Ltd. technology.
3D printed car tools start to take shape
“3D printing does not replace traditional manufacturing, but a third track. In the test production process, it allows creative design to no longer be limited by mold costs; on the production side, it makes personalized personalization and small -scale manufacturing possible. – Wu Hongtao”
“The real advantage of 3D printing technology is that it is in terms of monobloc and small batch. As a research and development method, it is still quite mature and has also been put on the scale. In the past 20 years, 3D printed parts such as SLA, SLS and FDM have very advantageous advantages in test production, both in terms of price and performance. themselves, but only to transport other parts for experiences or vehicle performance experiences.
Flight technology: a new reference for the precision of thin wall tools
Huashu Hi-Tech Flight technology has the advantages of high precision and great efficiency, and is very suitable for printing tools with thin wall tools, thin and complex walls, and is widely used in tools for inspection of tools made by bodywork. According to incomplete statistics, Volkswagen (China) Technology Co., Ltd. Use the 403P flight equipment and produces an average of more than 9,000 automotive parts, tool lights and inspection tools each year, and consumes more than 1 ton of powder materials.
The degree of liberation of efficiency of the 3D printing equipment depends on the engineer’s ability to systematically design the additive manufacturing process, thus losing the limits of traditional manufacturing thinking and fully freeing the potential of the equipment.
Wu Hongtao has introduced several cases of application typical of flight technology –
Rear cover labeling tool:
The positioning tools printed using the flight technology reaches printing accuracy of ± 0.1 mm, fast delivery at 3 days and 50% shorter than the traditional CNC process cycle.
Available installation of wiper:
No mold opening is required and the assembly positioning devices which are fully equipped with the curved surface of the wiper arm can be printed directly. Flight Technology presents the advantages of high precision and integrated training of complex structures, and designers can personalize conceptions for different models.
Carpet leaks inspection tool:
Thanks to the tolerance control of ± 0.3 mm, the locations on the carpet should be detected can be positioned with precision to detect if there is an accumulation of water in the carpet after the rain.
Inspection exemption from the front door triangle window:
It is a high -precision slimpin room, with a detection point positioning error ≤0.05 mm, guaranteeing the corresponding accuracy between the front door and the body of the white body.
Wu Hongtao concluded that the 3D printed tool inspection tools have the advantages of a compact structure, a high freedom of design and a quick response. They can also save contract time and labor costs, quickly meet production needs and have great advantages in manufacturing costs. The properties of the 3D printing, only one piece, small and personalized are in accordance with the characteristics of tool inspection tools, which determines that 3D printing will have a large space in the field of tool lights and inspection tools in the future.
SLM technology: a new chapter in high resistance tools
“At present, the 3D metal printed parts are not yet qualified for mass load. The fundamental reason is still the cost. However, the use of trial vehicles is fully qualified, in particular for complex and small metal parts with Huashu tests, printed metal equipment is high quality and stable performance, which fully meet our standards.” Wu Hongtao said.
At the beginning of 2025, based on the great recognition of the Huashu brand, Volkswagen (China) Technology Co., Ltd. introduced 3D Hi-Tech 3D Metal 3D FS273M-2 3D printing equipment, which will be used in the production of metallic automotive development parts.
For example, traditional car hinges are made by stamping and welding, and are fixed at the door and the body with bolts to form a rotary pivot for the opening and closing of the door. Their central function is to transmit loads, including the weight of the door and the external impact force. The use of metallic 3D printing technology can obtain a light design while guaranteeing strength while reducing time and production costs.
From the start of the first Huashu SLS equipment of the Faw-Volkswagen Changchun development department at the launch of the FS273m-2 metal equipment at the Volkswagen (China) factory, the Volkswagen 3D printing trip is a microcosm of the intelligent manufacturing upgrade of the Chinese automotive industry. As Wu Hongtao said: “From the automotive industry, examining the future trend in the development of 3D printing technology, I think that materials with better mechanical properties and cheaper quality will be born in the future, and the surface quality of the printed parts will be better and the training speed will be faster.”
Source: Huashu 3D printing
