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 Kors dream for a modern, sustainable vehicle that will someday revolutionize the way that we commute. The exteriors lightweight construction of ABS plastic allows for a minimum amount of drag and fuel required to operate the car, and its 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.
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.
Interesting. Thanks for posting.
How do we know he isn’t the fellow who invented it?
Morgan is still in business and makes both three and four-wheel cars.
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.
It needs a satin interior. They can just use it as your coffin after you take it on the highway
the most famous use of this wheel configuration was
Richard Buckminster (Bucky) Fullers Dymaxion car of 1933
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.
You beat me too it. But we agree.
I should have read all the posts before I commented. My bad habit.
Yup, it's gonna need a helmet (in most states)
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.
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
That is the front of the car.
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.
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.
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