The biggest innovations in the automotive world have been in small parts, and that is why BMW has opened a new 3D printing campus in Munich. Their latest press release is focused on “Additive Manufacturing”. The process by which metal and composites are formed into parts using CNC machine tools is transforming the industry. A new plant is running 100 printers, half metal, and half plastic. Without much need for human oversight, they are turning out everything from suspension brackets to seatbelt buttons around the clock. To keep them going, engineers are finding common areas across BMW’s lineup. A part made for the Cullinan could also be used on the 3-Series, so these economies of scale will increase the quality across the board.
