At the 2015 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show in Las Vegas, Local Motors (LM) unveiled LM3D Swim, the world’s first 3-D printed car series. In a Nov. 3 press release, Local Motors announced it will start pre-selling models of the LM3D Swim in spring 2016.
During production, the LM3D Swim’s chassis will be 3-D printed on a machine that shoots out ribbons of carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (CFRT), similar to toothpaste coming out of a tube. SABIC, a world leader in thermoplastic material solutions, provided the materials used to build the body of LM3D Swim.
Local Motors, which live-printed Strati, the world’s first 3-D printed car, at SEMA last year, is now moving into intensive testing and development phases that will culminate with the LM3D Swim, a road-ready series of cars built using direct digital manufacturing (DDM), which includes 3-D printing.
“In the past few months our engineers have moved from only a rendering to the car you see in front of you today,” Local Motors CEO Jay Rogers told the crowd at SEMA. “We are using the power of DDM to create new vehicles at a pace unparalleled in the auto industry, and we’re thrilled to begin taking orders on 3-D printed cars next year.”
