TIL: It's Possible To 3D Print A 'Functioning' Serpentine Belt
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.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Woks about as well as Phil’s timing chain
What’s next? 3D printed working engines? Oh wait…
Printing the shape of a car part is one thing, printing with actual quality and long lasting component is definetly something else
Imagine being able to 3D-print the entire car from the internet in the future! And that too for a small fee! :D
AlexKersten maybe you can print a working miata.
Today we have 3d printed belts.Whats next?Virtual belts that dont need replacing!?
Could work as a crutch to get it to the garage
Yes I would download a car than you very much.
Imagine long into the future where people called Derek will be filling the classfields with their homemade, 3D printed Ferrari replicas….
Yeah. Until it melts.