TIL: It's Possible To 3D Print A 'Functioning' Serpentine Belt

This guy managed to 3D print a serpentine belt, but it didn't work well, or last long...
Remote video URL

The world of 3D printing is fascinating, and it’ll be interesting to see exactly what it might mean cars in the future. There are companies out there offering cars that can be 3D printed and put together by the end user, and Koengisegg’s amazingly clever turbochargers were in the news a few years ago for using 3D printed components.

But what happens if you decided to start printing off your own car parts? Say, a serpentine belt? This guy modelled a replacement serpentine belt himself on a programme called Fusion 360, and after a few failed printing attempts, he had himself a ‘working’ part. Why the inverted commas? Well, watch the video and you’ll see it doesn’t work particularly well, and doesn’t last that long.

You definitely wouldn’t want to try the same for a timing belt, in other words. But regardless, it’s a cool experiment.

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Comments

GregK

Woks about as well as Phil’s timing chain

03/27/2017 - 16:23 |
16 | 0
GregK

In reply to by GregK

Work’s

03/27/2017 - 16:23 |
4 | 0
The Stig's Canadian Cousin 1

What’s next? 3D printed working engines? Oh wait…

03/27/2017 - 16:26 |
124 | 0
Joshua Persaud (Wagon/Estate Squad) (Sleeper Squad) I need a

In reply to by The Stig's Can…

Does it even run is the question.

03/27/2017 - 23:36 |
10 | 4
Anonymous

Printing the shape of a car part is one thing, printing with actual quality and long lasting component is definetly something else

03/27/2017 - 16:28 |
22 | 0
Ali Mahfooz

Imagine being able to 3D-print the entire car from the internet in the future! And that too for a small fee! :D

03/27/2017 - 16:32 |
38 | 2

Local motors already has done that! I got to see one at my local local motors (pun intended) showroom and its pretty cool

03/27/2017 - 16:35 |
38 | 0

Im building a 3D printer with my dad and some of his friends to print real size cars (probably a few meters to few meters to few meters) :D

03/27/2017 - 19:05 |
2 | 0
lowie t

AlexKersten maybe you can print a working miata.

03/27/2017 - 16:37 |
16 | 2
M4R10

Today we have 3d printed belts.Whats next?Virtual belts that dont need replacing!?

03/27/2017 - 17:28 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

Could work as a crutch to get it to the garage

03/27/2017 - 17:32 |
0 | 0
Max Caplan

Yes I would download a car than you very much.

03/27/2017 - 17:52 |
0 | 0
Sniff Petrol

Imagine long into the future where people called Derek will be filling the classfields with their homemade, 3D printed Ferrari replicas….

03/27/2017 - 18:02 |
30 | 0
Anonymous

Yeah. Until it melts.

03/27/2017 - 19:05 |
0 | 0