Can You Trust 3D-Printed Car Interior Parts?

"3D Printing = Prototypes" May Be an Outdated Idea

"Aren't 3D-printed parts basically models?"

"Won't they crack while driving or warp in a hot summer cabin?"

We hear questions like these often when we introduce our discontinued Land Rover Series III interior parts. If you're considering 3D-printed parts for the first time, a little hesitation is perfectly natural.

In this article, we set materials aside and look at one question: is 3D printing itself, as a manufacturing method, a good fit for car interior parts? We'll answer honestly.

How Does 3D Printing Make a Part?

3D printing (additive manufacturing) builds a shape from 3D data, laying down thin layers of material one at a time.

Conventional mass-produced parts are made by injecting resin into a mold. Molds are expensive, and they only pay off after thousands or tens of thousands of parts. 3D printing needs no mold. With the data in hand, it can make a single part.

For discontinued parts, that difference is decisive.

Honest Answers to Common Concerns

"Aren't layered parts weak?"

Half true, half misunderstanding.

Because 3D-printed parts are built up in layers, they tend to crack when force is applied between layers. This is a characteristic of the method, and it is a fact.

But this characteristic can be controlled through design and print method:

•         Choosing the print orientation for each part based on the direction of the forces it will bear

•         Increasing wall thickness and internal density where loads concentrate, such as screw mounts and clips

•         Rounding corners and shaping parts so stress doesn't concentrate at a single point

In other words, there's a world of difference between simply printing a part and making one with its use in mind, even though both are "3D printing."

"Will it fit as well as the original?"

For a part that goes into a real vehicle, fit matters most.

3D printing is a highly precise method that builds to the data. On top of that, we scan original parts, check the fit on an actual vehicle, and fine-tune dimensions where needed.

Molded mass-produced parts also vary, and their dimensions change with age. A 40-year-old original part won't necessarily fit today's car perfectly. Being able to adjust to the actual vehicle is, if anything, one of 3D printing's strengths.

"Will it look obviously 3D-printed?"

Many people worry about visible layer lines.

These parts are very easily sanded and painted or texture painted to match the original design or the owners tastes. Just a few simple painting steps.

"Will it hold up inside a real car?"

A car interior is anything but gentle on parts: summer heat, sunlight, vibration, and repeated use.

That's why we focus on three things:

1.       Choosing materials for the application (we use only materials accepted by the automotive industry, suited to the cabin environment)

2.       Design and printing that account for loads

3.       Fit checks on the actual vehicle

Understanding the characteristics of the manufacturing method and building accordingly is the foundation of a trustworthy part.

Buy With Confidence

•         Fit checked on actual vehicles

•         Materials and their characteristics explained carefully in advance

•         We offer a one year sun-bleach, no-melt warranty

•         Happy to answer questions about installation

If anything concerns you, please feel free to contact us before you buy.

Conclusion: 3D Printing Is a Practical Way to Carry Discontinued Parts into the Future

3D printing has things it does well and things to watch out for. Once you understand those characteristics, and take care over design, printing, finishing, and verification, it is a thoroughly dependable way to make car interior parts.

And above all, without 3D printing, Series III's discontinued parts might never have come back.

If you're struggling to find a part, please get in touch. Even parts not in our current lineup can be discussed for restoration through 3D scanning of your original.