MAKEiT, Inc: Reliable Large Format 3D Printers for Automotive Applications

3D printing is increasingly being explored in all aspects of automotive manufacturing. Aside from rapid prototyping, the technology is also being utilized to produce tooling and, in some cases, end parts--cementing its position as an indispensable rapid prototyping technique capable of producing highly customized products at a low cost. However, printing automotive components can be time-consuming, costly, and complex. As the demand for large format 3D printers that can replicate vehicle body panels, bezels, and mechanical parts grows, MAKEiT, Inc.—a California-based 3D printer manufacturing firm—provides cost-effective and reliable 2x4 large-format 3D printers to bridge the technological gaps in the automotive industry. In addition to 3D printers, the company also delivers various services such as design consulting, overflow manufacturing, and batch printing file setup to MAKEiT product owners and strategic partners.

The company primarily focuses on producing high-quality 3D printers for the automotive industry. By using MAKEiT’s 2x4 large-format 3D printer, customers can significantly benefit from catalyzed production, accelerated delivery, reduced material waste, and create new geometries that are not achievable with traditional processes. The MAKEiT 2x4 3D printer has a large heated rectangular printing area of 55Lx24Wx31H inches (1400x605x800mm), which can print even large parts rather than numerous print assemblies.

The printer’s built-in Raspberry Pi provides limitless customization options. Advanced users can customize the printer to their specific project requirements with a personal touch. Moreover, customers can also quickly fix the printers themselves in case of any malfunction, resulting in short downtime of the machines. “The long term operation maintenance costs for the 3D printers are very favorable to customers,” says Salomo Murtonen, CEO and CTO of MAKEiT, Inc.

A client success story that showcases the competence of MAKEiT’s 2x4 large-format 3D printer is its interaction with Flying Dutchman Industries—an automotive manufacturing company. The client had faced difficulties with section bucks/wireframes--commonly used tools to aid metal shaping. Using this standard tool to shape a car body with intricate and detailed design can be challenging. Not only is this process time-consuming, but it may also be erroneous. It is especially challenging to create and preserve the symmetric flow of both the driver and passenger sides of the vehicle body. Through MAKEiT’s 2x4 large format printers, the complex fender shape details, such as curve lines and edge finishing, were captured and reflected on the 3D printed fender bucks. The fender parts provided the client with accurate touching points through the metal shaping process and they also served as excellent guidelines to complete the metal edge finishing. Thanks to MAKEiT’s 2x4 large format printers, the client’s complex passenger side fender buck was 3D printed straight from the CAD design. The driver fender buck was then digitally "mirrored” and 3D printed to complete the pair. With the help of the 3D printed fender pattern, the metal shaping was completed in a day. Thus, MAKEiT’s 3D printing technology tremendously improved Flying Dutchman Industries’ legacy metal shaping process.

Looking ahead, MAKEiT intends to use virtual reality and augmented reality in its 3D printers to speed up the design process of parts. Additionally, MAKEiT is ecstatic to bring about additional advancements in 3D printing to suit the requirements and demands of the electric vehicle industry.