SEMA Storage, the product growth and expertise middle operated by the Specialty Gear Market Affiliation (SEMA), has partnered with BigRep America, the North American division of German large-format 3D printer producer BigRep, to supply large-format 3D printing companies to SEMA members throughout North America. Working from the SEMA Storage facility in Diamond Bar, California, the collaboration allows corporations inside the group’s community to supply components starting from early-stage prototypes to purposeful elements utilizing the printer producer’s catalog of validated 3D printing filaments.
The Diamond Bar middle helps corporations working within the automotive specialty tools sector by offering engineering and product growth sources. Companies accessible by means of the Diamond Bar facility embrace automobile testing, 3D scanning, entry to OEM information, and manufacturing assist used throughout product growth and compliance processes. Including large-format additive manufacturing expands these capabilities by permitting member corporations to supply bigger components and elements straight by means of the power’s manufacturing companies.
Diamond Bar will home the BigRep STUDIO system, a large-format 3D printer designed for skilled environments requiring large-scale half manufacturing. The STUDIO platform can print full-scale elements utilizing a spread of supplies, from normal prototyping filaments to engineering-grade thermoplastics suited to purposeful purposes. Entry to this technique permits SEMA members to supply giant prototypes, tooling, and purposeful components by means of the group’s product growth companies.
“We couldn’t be extra enthusiastic about this partnership with SEMA Storage,” mentioned Jeff Olson, President of BigRep America. “It’s a significant step ahead in how we carry large-format additive manufacturing to the automotive trade in North America. The automotive sector has at all times been on the coronary heart of what we do, and by working straight with SEMA Storage, we’re making it simpler than ever for his or her members to faucet into that expertise for actual large-scale purposes.”
Jim Moore, Vice President of OEM and Product Improvement at SEMA, mentioned the collaboration expands product growth capabilities accessible to member corporations. “SEMA Storage is thrilled to associate with BigRep to carry large-format fast prototyping into our Product Improvement service lineup,” Moore mentioned. “This functionality provides our members the instruments to stretch the boundaries of innovation and enhance the pace and effectivity of their growth course of.”
The Specialty Gear Market Affiliation represents greater than 7,000 corporations concerned in designing, manufacturing, distributing, and retailing automotive aftermarket elements. Alongside working SEMA Storage amenities, the group hosts the annual SEMA Present in Las Vegas and offers product growth sources, market analysis, networking, and legislative advocacy for corporations working within the automotive aftermarket sector. Based on SEMA, this trade generates roughly $337 billion in financial impression in the US, helps round 1.3 million jobs, and produces practically $53 billion in annual components gross sales.
Giant-format additive manufacturing reduces prototyping and tooling constraints in automotive engineering
Giant-format additive manufacturing techniques have already been adopted in motorsport engineering environments the place fast iteration and tight growth schedules form automobile design. NASCAR Cup Sequence staff LEGACY MOTOR CLUB put in two BigRep STUDIO printers to supply prototypes, tooling, and chosen purposeful elements inside its race store after outsourcing delays slowed growth cycles. Engineers reported printing between 10 and 20 components per week, together with a gear cooler plenum designed to enhance transaxle cooling. Producing the element internally decreased seasonal materials prices from roughly $40,000 by means of outsourced manufacturing to about $1,139.50 in printing materials. Full-scale prototyping additionally permits engineers to guage element geometry straight on the automotive earlier than committing to steel manufacturing, shortening growth timelines throughout the racing season.
{Hardware} capabilities developed by the Berlin-based additive manufacturing firm replicate the rising must produce giant elements and tooling in a single construct. On the Formnext 2025 commerce present in Frankfurt, the producer offered a number of large-format techniques designed for industrial half manufacturing. The ONE.5 printer presents a construct quantity of 1 cubic meter and an upgraded extruder able to delivering as much as 40 p.c greater materials circulation charges than earlier fashions. One other system, the VIIO 250 platform, incorporates automated mattress mapping, filament circulation adjustment, and twin extruders able to processing engineering-grade and carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers at temperatures as much as 350 °C. Supporting tools, such because the DRYCON unit, combines drying, storage, and annealing chambers that function at temperatures as much as 180 °C to enhance the mechanical power and dimensional stability of printed elements, addressing materials efficiency necessities widespread in large-format industrial printing.
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Featured picture exhibits SEMA Storage new partnership with BigRep. Picture by way of SEMA.
