[Zhang Fei]

[It comes down to “can a factory be controlled over the internet”?]

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For prototyping, it seems like a wonderful idea. The problem is that getting something that merely looks like the final product is not the end of the story. An engine block needs to be able to withstand the forces and temperatures of internal combustion. Can a 3D-printed engine do this?

[mrsmith]

Believe me, I appreciate that.
It couldn’t be done 10 years ago when I first encountered the idea. But T believe it can now.

And what does it all mean?

[roadcat]

An engine block needs to be able to withstand the forces and temperatures of internal combustion. Can a 3D-printed engine do this?

Aren't some rocket engines being produced by 3D printing? If a rocket engine can withstand high temperatures, then so can an auto engine.

Decades ago, I had a car that had overheating problems. 20 years ago, I rebuilt the engine. I found that the engine block and cylinder head had lots of imperfections in the water jackets, and casting debris within. Same for the air intakes of the cylinder head. I carefully removed the casting debris and ground down imperfections. After assembling the engine it ran beautifully, very cool and with much more horsepower. Still runs great today.

3D printing is superior in many respects than traditional casting of engines. Pathways can be smoother and more efficient.

[roadcat]

An engine block needs to be able to withstand the forces and temperatures of internal combustion. Can a 3D-printed engine do this?

I just thought, they're probably concentrating on all-electric vehicles. Much easier assembly with fewer components. I own an electric car and the simplicity of design amazes me.

[Ozark Tom]

3d manufacture with certain laser sintered alloy powders can be quite strong. Can a company afford to use those materials to produce a commodity product such as an automobile? Must ask the opinion of a Boeing or Lockheed engineer whether it could be economically viable outside of aerospace applications.

[Wonder Warthog]

"An engine block needs to be able to withstand the forces and temperatures of internal combustion. Can a 3D-printed engine do this?"

Since nowadays they are printing parts for jet and rocket engines, I am pretty sure the answer is "yes".

[null and void]

An engine block needs to be able to withstand the forces and temperatures of internal combustion. Can a 3D-printed engine do this?

Yes. Even rocket engines!