Hello 3D Printing
I am trying to find some information about the possibility of printing vintage motorcycle engine.
How advanced is the metal printing technology, I can read some info about jet engine printing and gun printing but can’t really find anything about piston gas engines. Any suggestions would be helpful.
You might be better off printing in plastic with good shell layers and low infill then find someone to do a lost-wax style casting for you in the metal of your choice.
The SLM process might be able to pull it off - but printing an entire, unmodified motor (block) will be ridiculously expensive. Going with investment casting is probably the better choice.
Thank you for your comments. The casting proces might be cheaper but I was just wondering if it is even possible to print complete engine more as a proof of concept regardless of the cost as of now. What are the limitations aside from the price? Where can I search for more info, I got lost google’ing…
I think the limitations are just cost and time. The process seems to go well with prototype turbine and rocket engines, which I think is more extreme in temperatures and pressures than an internal combustion engine.
I think you need to treat the 3D printed part as a casting. Machining parts to a given surface finish is a must. The parts are not smooth when taken out of a 3d printer. That probably means vibratory finishing, especially for the fluid passages. Mating surfaces (head, pans), sliding surfaces (piston, valve and cylinder) and bearing (crank, etc) surfaces need machining too.
I think laser deposition is your best bet for something like an engine. Of course the cylinders etc would need to be machined but that can achieved using at least 1 machine I’m aware of:
Hybrid ( Additive and Subtractive manufacturing) …: http://youtu.be/s9IdZ2pI5dA
Yup. You should either cast it, or use a subtractive form of manufacturing from a block of metal. Like cnc.