There is no end to what all human beings can do, and yet there are an awfully few things that we do better than growing on a consistent basis. This tendency to get better, no matter the situation, has empowered the world to clock some huge milestones, with technology emerging as quite a major member of the group. The reason why we hold technology in such a high regard is, by and large, predicated upon its skill-set, which guided us towards a reality that nobody could have ever imagined otherwise. Nevertheless, if we look beyond the surface for one hot second, it will become abundantly clear how the whole runner was also very much inspired from the way we applied those skills across a real world environment. The latter component, in fact, did a lot to give the creation a spectrum-wide presence, and as a result, initiate a full-blown tech revolution. Of course, this revolution eventually went on to scale up the human experience through some outright unique avenues, but even after achieving a feat so notable, technology will somehow continue to bring forth the right goods. The same has turned more and more evident in recent times, and assuming one new discovery ends up with the desired impact, it will only put that trend on a higher pedestal moving forward.

Stratasys Ltd., one of biggest players across the current 3D printing space, has officially signed off on a partnership with Toyota Racing Development (TRD), a partnership which will focus on manufacturing the first-ever 3D-printed production parts for all 36 GR86 vehicles participating in the new Toyota GR Cup single-make racing series. According to certain reports, TRD will deploy the Stratasys Fortus 450mc, F370 and the new composite ready F370 CR 3D printers at its manufacturing facilities in Salisbury, North Carolina and Costa Mesa, California. These industrial-grade 3D printers will be put into action for manufacturing, all in all, a total of 30 racing parts. The stated assortment of parts include the hood vent, engine inlet air-duct, rear wing mounts, center console cover, and the door handle that the partners will notably conceive using plant-based material. Apart from it, the deployed printers will whip out a specialized FDM Nylon 12CF hood vent for the new Toyota GR86 production model. More on the Toyota GR86, TRD will also tap into Stratasys Direct Services (SDS) facility in Belton, Texas, to 3D print a clamp for the model. To take care of this particular operation, the Toyota division will use Stratasys H350 3D printer powered by the supplier’s SAF (selective-absorption fusion) technology and high-yield PA11 material. Talk about the Belton facility in question, it currently has around 33 SLS printers, but more are set to join the pack during the later stages of 2023, alongside various post-processing capabilities. Complimenting the same is a plan to expand the facility’s size by 50% which is going to take its total floorspace to about 60,000 sq. ft.

Before TRD, Stratasys has also been an exclusive supplier of 3D-printed parts for Radford Motors’ Type 62-2 Pikes Peak Edition racecar which competed in this year’s hill climb during June. Backed up with more than 70 Stratasys 3D-printed parts, this racing car can go from zero to 60 mph in less than 2.2 seconds, boasting a top speed of 160 mph. Here, the company used H350, F900, F770, 450mc, and F370 printers to conceive fenders, brake ducts, and radiator cooling ducts etc.

“Using so many 3D printed parts on the Type 62-2 gives Radford a serious competitive edge, as it takes considerable weight off the car, thus improving its overall performance,” said Rich Garrity, chief industrial business officer at Stratasys Ltd. “The 3D-printed parts are also stronger and more resilient, and if something does happen to a part during testing or a practice run, they can recreate that part much faster than a traditionally manufactured part.”