Local Motors Launches Design Challenge for First 3D Printed Car

Local Motors, Inc. (Phoenix, AZ) announces the launch of the 3D Printed Car Design Challenge to inform and influence the design of the vehicle that will be manufactured at IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show 2014 in Chicago, IL, September 8-13, 2014. The challenge will run through May 13, 2014. More than $10,000 in prize money will be awarded for winning challenge entries, which will be announced on May 30, 2014.

“Historically, producing a new vehicle from a new design has represented a significant investment in tooling and a large commitment in time to integrate multiple structures and components,” said Jay Rogers, the Local Motors chief executive officer. “This effort to design and deliver the first co-created vehicle using this digital technology and manufacturing process could change the process and speed in which vehicles are designed and built.”

Launched just two months after Local Motors announced partnerships with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology (McLean, VA), the 3D Printed Car Design Challenge will seek to define innovations in the methodology associated with incorporating additive and subtractive manufacturing methods in vehicle design and development. Though this manufacturing method is compatible with any powertrain solution, for this first vehicle project, Local Motors has chosen to power the vehicle with a battery electric drive system.

“AMT is always on the lookout for the newest, innovative technology. The design of this Local Motors vehicle is no exception. I look forward to seeing how the team incorporates the latest advancements,” said Paul Warndorf, the vice president of manufacturing technology for AMT.

Local Motors is pioneering the use of 3D printing technology in the the automotive industry to build a fully functional full scale 3D printed car this coming September at the IMTS Show in Chicago. Currently Local Motors is accepting submissions for designs for this project.

This effort will also include the engagement of ORNL partner Cincinnati Incorporated (Harrison, OH) and their innovative Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) machine that pioneers the use of large-scale 3D printing technology and is focused on packaging a complete digital manufacturing process in the first machine of its kind.

“This vehicle may well be the coolest vehicle on the planet, at least to those of us in manufacturing technology,” said Rick Neff, the manager market development for Cincinnati . “I am excited to help judge the design competition for the 3D Printed Vehicle that will influence how we manufacture many things.  This will be the first application of a BAAM machine from Cincinnati Incorporated.”

In order to enter the challenge, designers are required to submit three distinct views of their project (side, ¾ front and ¾ rear), one mise-en-scene view and a description of the benefits and innovations associated with the concept.

Submissions to the Local Motors 3D Printed Car Design Challenge will be voted on by the Local Motors Community on localmotors.com and judged by an independent panel of experts led by Bre Pettis, the chief executive officer of MakerBot and Local Motors board member. In addition to Pettis and representation from both Local Motors and the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the panel includes:

• Rick Neff, the manager of market development at Cincinnati Incorporated
• Douglas K. Woods, the president of AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology
• Peter Eelman, the vice president of exhibitions and communications at AMT– The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and
• Paul Warndorf, the vice president of manufacturing technology for AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

“I’m excited to partner with Local Motors on this project and judge the innovative designs. After years of being in the manufacturing industry, it’s still interesting to see what young engineers and entrepreneurs come up with,” said Woods.

One challenge submission will be selected as the overall winner. The winning designer will be awarded a $5,000 cash prize plus a trip to IMTS to participate in the printing of the first vehicle. Up to five “Innovation Awards” winners will receive cash prizes of $1,000 each for exceptional ideas or usages specific to the 3D-printing process. One award for “Community Favorite”, based on voting by the Local Motors Community, will also be awarded a $1,000 cash prize.

Eelman commented, “The very spirit of the Emerging Technology Center (ETC) since it debuted in 2004 as a focal point on the show floor has been to give the manufacturing community a look into the future. Local Motors makes it their business to be that future and we are thrilled to put them center stage at IMTS. I’m glad to have the opportunity to get involved early in the judging of the 3D printed car designs.”

From bytes-to-bits, the Local Motors platform empowers anyone to design, build, and sell the world’s coolest machines. The platform combines global co-creation and local micro-manufacturing to bring hardware innovations to market at unprecedented speed. The Company stewards a global co-creation community made up of hobbyist innovators and professionals. This community is comprised of enthusiasts, designers, engineers, and makers. The Company operates a growing global network of microfactories, where innovators create amazing products and consumers come to marvel and shop. We make the coolest machines together. localmotors.com

Founded in 1902 as the National Machine Tool Builders’ Association, AMT supports and promotes the U.S. manufacturing technology industry. The association provides U.S. builders of manufacturing systems with the latest information on technical developments, trade and marketing opportunities, and economic issues. It also gathers and disseminates information about world markets, promotes its members’ products in those markets, and acts as a representative on manufacturing technology matters to governments and trade organizations throughout the world. www.Amtonline.org

The largest and longest running manufacturing technology trade show in the United States is held every other year at McCormick Place in Chicago: IMTS 2014 will run September 8-13 and is ranked among the largest trade shows in the world. Recognized as one of the world’s preeminent stages for introducing and selling manufacturing equipment and technology, IMTS attracts more than 100,000 visitors from every level of industry and more than 119 countries. IMTS is owned and managed by AMT. www.IMTS.com