3D Printing Accelerates Automotive Parts Development: Raise3D Helps Baolu Automotive Create Efficient and Flexible Product Validation Processes

The Transformation Dilemma of the Veteran Enterprise: Traditional Outsourcing Model Restricts the Pace of Innovation

As an enterprise that has been in the automotive precision plastic parts industry for more than 40 years, Baolu Automotive’s products cover fasteners such as clips and pipe clamps, as well as functionally critical parts such as jug valves for engine cooling systems. In the past, the production of some samples and parts mainly relied on outsourcing, but this traditional model has revealed many drawbacks:

• Long delivery cycle: it often takes 1-2 weeks from placing an order to getting the prototype, which seriously slows down the progress of design validation and trial assembly.
• High cost: single-piece mold development and processing costs are expensive, which is not conducive to multiple rounds of iterative validation.
• Uncontrollable delivery time: external resources are unstable, and cannot respond in time when urgent changes or expediting are encountered.
• Low validation efficiency: after design modification, the update of validation samples cannot keep up with the pace of development, which slows down the project process.

Raise3D DF2+ Solution

In order to meet the needs of rapid iteration and precision assembly of auto parts, Baolu Automotive has conducted in-depth research and sampling validation on a number of mainstream 3D printing devices in the market. In the end, based on the comprehensive consideration of printing efficiency, molding accuracy and material compatibility, Baolu chose to deploy Raise3D DF2+ Solution as a complete solution.

With a print speed of up to 100 mm/h, the DF2+ is particularly suitable for rapid prototyping and small batch production. Combined with the ideaMaker® slicing software and RFID smart identification system, the device automatically configures the parameters of the printer, DF Wash and DF Cure to achieve a closed-loop control of the whole process from printing to curing, which ensures consistent output quality during batch production, and stable and consistent output quality throughout mass production.

Currently, Baolu Automotive uses the DF2+ to print plastic fasteners (e.g., clips, clamps, ties, caps), interior and exterior parts (e.g., passenger assist handles), and functional parts (e.g., pot valve covers, cooling system expansion pots, washer fluid pots, filler caps, check valves, and bi-directional valves).