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The 3D-Printed Urbee 2 Hybrid Car is Light, Strong, and Nearing Production
Inhabitat.com ^ | 03/03/13 | Morgana Matus

Posted on 03/03/2013 6:34:52 PM PST by Kevmo

The 3D-Printed Urbee 2 Hybrid Car is Light, Strong, and Nearing Production

by Morgana Matus, 03/03/13

Nothing says “Welcome to the Future” like a 3D-printed runabout vehicle with a hybrid engine, three wheels, speeds of up to 110 mph, and capacity to carry up to 1,200 lbs. The Urbee 2 is the result of Jim Kor’s dream for a modern, sustainable vehicle that will someday revolutionize the way that we commute. The exterior’s lightweight construction of ABS plastic allows for a minimum amount of drag and fuel required to operate the car, and it’s stronger and more easily manipulated than steel. Able to hold two passengers, the Urbee could very well be the next big thing in urban transportation.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: 3dprinting; business; technology; transportation
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To: bigbob

All this discussion of building things using printers has me confused. I always thought 3D printing was for rapid prototyping, not production. It’s pretty time consuming to lay down 40 micron layers. Time machine, indeed...but it might be easier to accelerate these printers to 0.99999C.


21 posted on 03/03/2013 7:16:19 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: Kevmo

Interesting. Thanks for posting.


22 posted on 03/03/2013 7:16:28 PM PST by PGalt
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To: bigbob

How do we know he isn’t the fellow who invented it?


23 posted on 03/03/2013 7:17:33 PM PST by Rebelbase (1929-1950's, 20+years for full recovery. How long this time?)
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To: Forward the Light Brigade

Morgan is still in business and makes both three and four-wheel cars.


24 posted on 03/03/2013 7:20:59 PM PST by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: Forward the Light Brigade

They still make them:

http://www.morgan3wheeler.co.uk/home.html

A review:

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/convertibles/1208_2013_morgan_3_wheeler_first_drive/

According to the Wikipedia page, they have a US spec model, too.


25 posted on 03/03/2013 7:21:52 PM PST by FLAMING DEATH (I'm not racist - I hate Biden too!)
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To: Kevmo

It needs a satin interior. They can just use it as your coffin after you take it on the highway


26 posted on 03/03/2013 7:22:53 PM PST by Figment
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To: Kevmo
the car uses a three-wheel chassis.
The two front wheels are driven and
the single-rear wheel does the steering.

the most famous use of this wheel configuration was
Richard Buckminster (Bucky) Fuller’s Dymaxion car of 1933


27 posted on 03/03/2013 7:23:14 PM PST by HangnJudge
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To: Kevmo
three wheels

Uhhh, we have a design problem. I have been on 3 wheel motor cycles and they are not stable. 110 MPH on 3 wheels, not only no, but H/NO.

28 posted on 03/03/2013 7:23:35 PM PST by Texas Fossil
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To: Chode

You beat me too it. But we agree.

I should have read all the posts before I commented. My bad habit.


29 posted on 03/03/2013 7:26:24 PM PST by Texas Fossil
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To: nascarnation
yeah, something doesn't add up here
30 posted on 03/03/2013 7:28:55 PM PST by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Blood of Tyrants
Three wheels means that it can be licensed as a motorcycle.

Yup, it's gonna need a helmet (in most states)

31 posted on 03/03/2013 7:29:01 PM PST by HangnJudge
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To: Venturer
100%
32 posted on 03/03/2013 7:31:42 PM PST by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: HangnJudge
the picture in #6 is an odd angle but it looks like the rear has two wheels judging from how close to the outside of the car the one showing is and none show in the front, or is it a different car altogether
33 posted on 03/03/2013 7:36:55 PM PST by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: FLAMING DEATH

Had never seen the Morgan 3. I looked at your link. It has a single rear wheel and the weight distribution is forward. It is possible that it might actually skid without turning over.

The 3D printed car has a single front wheel and I would never ride in one. Not safe.


34 posted on 03/03/2013 7:37:13 PM PST by Texas Fossil
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To: Figment

I remember saying similar things about Honda N600’s, which is what the Honda Civic was based on. We used to say it looked like 2 motorcycles stuck together. Nowadays, millions of americans drive around in Hondas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Life


35 posted on 03/03/2013 7:43:37 PM PST by Kevmo ("A person's a person, no matter how small" ~Horton Hears a Who)
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To: Olog-hai
Cousin It-mobile (Messershmitt KR200) but the correct color should be white.


36 posted on 03/03/2013 7:44:41 PM PST by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: Chode

That is the front of the car.


37 posted on 03/03/2013 7:45:21 PM PST by TLI ( ITINERIS IMPENDEO VALHALLA)
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To: nascarnation

If they can eventually get around to mass production, it will probably take about the same time that it currently takes to produce a vehicle.

The advantage that 3D printing might have is that there could be significant savings in transporting only the raw material, instead of having to transport parts.


38 posted on 03/03/2013 7:46:41 PM PST by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults.)
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To: Texas Fossil

Three-wheel vehicles are unstable when the single wheel is in front. Where there are two wheels in front, and one in the back, they are very reasonably stable.

Check the Can-am Spyder.


39 posted on 03/03/2013 7:50:32 PM PST by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults.)
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To: TLI
not according to the blue one...

40 posted on 03/03/2013 7:52:12 PM PST by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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