In today's automotive industry, 3D printers are rapidly becoming go-to options for creating parts quickly and efficiently. Ford is a company that has been utilizing 3D printers for decades, and more recently, they've begun to use 3D-printed parts on their race cars. The Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Daytona Prototype car was equipped with a 3D-prtined intake manifold when it won the 24 Hours of Daytona this past January. This latest achievement speaks volumes of 3D printing and its improvements over the years.
Ford first began using 3D printing in 1988 when they bought the third 3D printer ever made. They started creating prototype knobs and buttons with the printer, and now 27 years later, the carmaker is using innovative, new printers to develop parts for prototype vehicles. With a 3D printer in their possession, they are able to print new parts in a matter of a week, which is a quick a turnaround. Due to the fast-working printer, Ford decided to use a 3D-printed intake manifold on Chip Ganassi Daytona Prototype car in order to save time. They modified the part with carbon fiber pieces, tested it on the Prototype and kept it on the car for the 24 Hours of Daytona race, which helped it score a victory, proving the power of 3D-printed parts.
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