Porsche is 3D printing classic car parts

By: James Robinson, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 14.02.2018

This is genius

Porsche’s division dedicated to its classic automobiles, Porsche Classic, has started 3D printing bespoke spare parts and componentry for some of its most iconic motor cars.

The German sportscar manufacturer is currently producing nine spare parts using the new-fangled fabrication technique.   

These parts include the release lever for the clutch and the filler seal cap for the 959, the crank arm for the 964 911 and spare parts for the 356 B and 356 C.

Porsche Classic says the reason they have employed the 3D printing technique is due to the fact that traditional manufacturing techniques for spare parts of some of their rarer cars, like the aforementioned 959 (only 292 were built), are too costly and not feasible and that 3D printing presents itself as the only real viable alternative.

Porsche is currently 3D printing with a number of different materials including steel, alloy and plastic.

The steel and alloy parts are printed using the selective laser melting process, while the plastic parts are fabricated using a selective laser sintering (SLS) printer.

According to Porsche classic, the parts that are created using these processes are stringently tested to meet the original part qualities, however, the German firm add that most parts that are 3D printed exceed the quality requirements of the original products.

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