Interesting option for future cars

[Swordman]

I just had an idea. How cool would it be if the brand new car you just bought came with a USB stick with 3D files of all major components that are replaceable?

That way, if you buy a car with the intention of keeping it forever, there will always be parts available as you could probably get a specialist company to print them/ machine them.

Thoughts?

[lamboman100]

The 3D files will be stored in the cloud / Web, not on a USB stick.

Car companies will fight like crazy to stop it happening. It would be like a turkey voting for Christmas.

[Dave Hedgehog]

manufacturers do not want:

you to keep your car for to long
to have others supply parts as this is a big ticket money item for them
to repair it yourself

[Debaser]

How many cars get replaced because the owner can't get replacement parts? Aren't most just sold/traded in because the owner wants to upgrade?

[Matt UK]

lamboman100 said:

It would be like a turkey voting for Christmas.

so true.

Sorry OP, back to the drawing board.

[MrBarry123]

Swordman said:

I just had a bad idea. How cool would it be if the brand new car you just bought came with a USB stick with 3D files of all major components that are replaceable?

That way, if you buy a car with the intention of keeping it forever, there will always be parts available as you could probably get a specialist company to print them/ machine them.

Thoughts?

Fixed that for you.

[mikearwas]

Matt UK said:

so true.

Sorry OP, back to the drawing board.

I'm not quite sure the OP understands how business works...

However, in an ideal world this would be awesome if just from an engineering intrigue POV.

[GrumpyTwig]

Great until USB becomes obsolete

[balls-out]

mikearwas said:

I'm not quite sure the OP understands how business works...

However, in an ideal world this would be awesome if just from an engineering intrigue POV.

Or how engineering works. Custom fabriation of components isn't a sensible approach to manufacturing.
Just pop into your local machine shop and ask them to run you up a high precision bearing or shock absorber....

[What]

MrBarry123 said:

Fixed that for you.

[Swordman]

Lol, ok maybe a bad idea..no harm, no foul...I'll get my coat!

[ambuletz]

it would only probably work if you could buy the part from a dealer. lets say you buy the part from a dealer, the dealer then gets the 3D print online, downloads it, and uses one of those 3D printers to make the part. so far we can only really print in plastic. The only thing that would be good for is various trim of old cars.

[TooMany2cvs]

ambuletz said:

so far we can only really print in plastic. The only thing that would be good for is various trim of old cars.

Not even for that - the plastic's not particularly solid or hard-wearing.

[vladx2]

ambuletz said:

it would only probably work if you could buy the part from a dealer. lets say you buy the part from a dealer, the dealer then gets the 3D print online, downloads it, and uses one of those 3D printers to make the part. so far we can only really print in plastic. The only thing that would be good for is various trim of old cars.

Titanium too. Koenigsegg use 3D printing in titanium to make some parts.