Within the automotive industry, the malfunction or failure of a component can lead to catastrophic consequences. As such, it essential to fully test and evaluate any new part or product to determine whether it performs as intended before it is available in the market. For these operations, prototypes are ideal.
At 3ERP, we have extensive experience prototyping and manufacturing automotive parts, including for leading automotive companies such as BMW, Bentley Motors, Lamborghini, and Land Rover. We utilize rapid prototyping techniques to produce high-performance physical prototypes designed and built to pass some of the most rigorous verification and testing procedures available.
In the automotive industry, there is constant pressure to achieve higher performance standards, including those regarding fuel efficiency, aerodynamics, connectivity, and security. By employing rapid prototyping techniques, manufacturers experience the following advantages:
At 3ERP, we offer the following rapid prototyping capabilities for customers in the automotive industry:
We are capable of prototyping interior, exterior, and functional parts at our facilities.
We produce prototypes for many interior vehicle parts, such as the steering wheel, dashboard, or console. By utilizing rapid prototyping, interior parts can be tested for various aspects. For example, steering wheels can be evaluated for their grip, dashboards can be verified for color, and consoles can be assessed for the amount of wear they show after use. The results gathered from these tests can provide insight into whether a design needs alteration.
The exterior parts we prototype include bumpers, headlights/tail lights, and door handles. Exterior part prototypes are generally tested for safety, such as how the bumper holds up in a simulated crash, how the lights perform in low light or rain, or how the door handles function with repeated use. Safety testing, such as failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), can also be performed on exterior parts to evaluate the risk of failure in both everyday use and extreme conditions.
The functional parts that we can prototype include air components, engine covers, and air filter housings. Functional part prototypes are primarily tested to ascertain how well they perform within the vehicle. For example, the air components, engine covers, and air filter housings can be prototyped and tested to see how they function in the high-temperature environment generated by the engine.
At 3ERP, we provide automotive industry customers with rapid prototyping and services like CNC machining and CNC milling. Our expert team has the knowledge and skills to help bring new product concepts to life. For more information on our prototyping capabilities and how we serve the automotive industry, contact us or request a quote today.
