whitepaper

How Automotive Jigs and Fixtures Can Maximize the Benefits of 3D Printing

How Automotive Jigs and Fixtures Can Maximize the Benefits of 3D Printing

3D printing (3DP) is increasingly seen as the best way to produce automotive jigs and fixtures. But even though many auto manufacturers have already taken the 3DP route, far too many of them are still missing out on benefits like lighter weight, higher accuracy, lower costs and shorter lead times.

That’s because high-performing, lightweight custom tooling requires much more than just a 3D printer, particularly with larger, more complex jigs and quality-critical checking fixtures. This short paper provides a quick guide to creating 3D-printed automotive production aids and explains how to gain full benefit from this proven and effective manufacturing technique.

The precision of the new fixture really surprised me. We can now achieve much tighter tolerances and expect reduced scrap/redo rates. Our workers on the line love it. The new jig is easier to handle and much lighter. – Hannes Wauters, Equipment Engineer at Volvo Car Gent

How Automotive Jigs and Fixtures Can Maximize the Benefits of 3D Printing

With this whitepaper, you will learn:

  • Our 4 top tips on leveraging additive technology for automotive production tools

  • Why high-performing, lightweight, custom tooling needs more than just a 3D printer

  • How leading automotive production companies are already using 3D-printed tools

Free Download

By submitting this form, I allow Materialise to send me content on products and services that may be of interest, and I know I can unsubscribe at any time. I acknowledge that my personal data will be processed in accordance with Materialise’s Privacy Policy and legitimate interest.

All Resources

All

Press Releases

Success Stories

Articles

Whitepapers

Tools

Tool

Calculate your Return On Investment

Curious to know whether laser checking fixtures would be profitable for you? Tell us a bit about your business and simulate your potential gains in production efficiency, operational savings and profits. Think about the part for which you want to run this simulation, and drag the slider to set the variables.

Success Story

20 Setups, 1 Fixture: Automotive Quality Control Goes Modular

Explore RapidFit’s custom-made automotive quality control fixture that combines twenty setups into one solution. 

Success Story

5 Reasons to Measure with RapidFit Fixtures

It’s time to trade in antiquated measuring fixtures for lightweight alternatives made with carbon fiber and 3D printing. Learn our top five reasons why you should make the switch.

Success Story

Upskill Your Robots with RapidFit’s Newest End-Of-Arm Solution

Discover how RapidFit’s new gripping solution reduces the payload of robotic arms, saves costs, increases accuracy, and allows factories to upskill their machinery.

Success Story

RapidLock: The Quick Release System Empowering Modularity

The RapidLock, RapidFit’s patented quick-release system, ensures modularity and accuracy for every project. Discover its benefits in this blog.

Success Story

Introducing Quality Checking Fixtures at Comau with Speed and Adaptability

Comau wanted to broaden their line with the addition of quality checking solutions. By collaborating with the RapidFit team on these fixtures, they can retain their core advantages thanks to faster lead times, lighter tools, and modular systems that ultimately improve quality checking for their end customers.

Success Story

Thinking Additive: How Volvo Car Gent Has Reimagined Production Fixtures

Volvo Car Gent and Materialise discovered that if you boost performance and streamline supply of tools and fixtures, you can unlock savings, production headroom and more. How? By using a combination of 3D-printed and off-the-shelf parts to create tailored solutions faster. Here’s a gluing jig that combines all previous components in one fixture, weighs 64% less and can be delivered in only two weeks at nearly half the price of the previous jig.

Article

Understanding the Value of RapidFit: An Interview with Bart Wilberts

Why does the automotive industry choose RapidFit? We sat down with managing director Bart Wilberts to ask him all about the current state of the automotive industry, the benefits additive manufacturing (AM) brings to tooling, and what the future holds. 

Article

Vehicle Development, Simplified: The RapidFit Smart Cube

Automotive engineers use a wide range of tools in the development process. But what if they had one tool to rule them all? RapidFit’s Smart Cube is the answer.

Article

Sustainability at RapidFit: 3 Ways to Make a Difference in Your Production

From reducing costs to empowering health and safety, our approach to design and production makes a difference both here and for our customers. Discover how modularity, resource efficiency, and lightweight parts drive sustainability.

whitepaper

How Automotive Jigs and Fixtures Can Maximize the Benefits of 3D Printing

3D printing (3DP) is increasingly seen as the best way to produce automotive jigs and fixtures. But even though many auto manufacturers have already taken the 3DP route, far too many of them are still missing out on benefits like lighter weight, higher accuracy, lower costs and shorter lead times.

Press release

Carbon Fiber & Additive Manufacturing Make Automotive Fixtures Up to 90% Lighter