Audi created an exact replica of the ‘Silver Arrow’, in a 1:2 scale, using a 3D printer.
The metallic parts of the new 3D printed model, the Silver Arrow ‘Auto Union Typ C’, were made from metallic powder with a grain size of 15 to 40 thousandths of a millimeter, which is almost half of the diameter of a human hair. The process used a selective-sintering laser, which melted the metallic powder.
3D printing is used by Audi Toolmaking for creating components out of aluminum and steel. These achieve a higher density than the ones made from hot forming or die casting and the process is said to create objects and shapes with a length of 240 mm and a height of up to 200 mm.
Some of the innovations made by Audi Toolmaking include the intelligent tool, used to measure the position of a sheet metal through lasers and activators to take corrective action. This creates sharper contours in the sheet metal of car bodies.
The “branch” is considered a pioneer in the development of new technologies within the Volkswagen Group, which has 14 toolmaking units in 9 countries. Cooperative ventures have been arranged for research and development with the first focus being on 3D printing, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Hubert Waltl.
The Silver Arrow replica joins Porsche’s printing adventures, as a Cayman 3D model was revealed a couple of years back. Opel did something similar to the Adam too, and kit cars will no longer be the same since a similar Cobra was shown, along with various other vehicles in close or no contact to automakers.
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