Additive manufacturing company Stratasys has signed a new collaboration agreement with Don Schumacher Racing. As part of the deal, the team will use the company’s advanced Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology to accelerate both prototyping and new component design.
Developed to meet the demands of complex, high-requirement racing, FDM enables teams to use 3D printing to accelerate design iterations, workflows and final part production. Don Schumacher Motorsports, the production arm of Don Schumacher Racing, is currently leveraging the Stratasys Fortus 450mc 3D Printer and F370 3D Printer, as well as its high-performance materials.
“With Stratasys 3D printing in place, anytime a crew chief has an idea for a project or concept part, we can design it, print it out, and test fit and function rapidly at a low cost – whether it’s a prototype or final part,” said Scott Cutler, senior manufacturing engineer, Don Schumacher Motorsports. “Thanks to 3D printing, we’re able to be more innovative – which equals consistent performance on the track.”
Key applications for both Stratasys machines within Don Schumacher Motorsports include chassis or weldment fixturing, prototype development, final design proof-of-concept, and finished ultralight usable components. The printers are already fully integrated into the team’s fabrication shop for its Top Fuel, Funny Car and Factory Stock teams.
“Competitive motorsports demand technology that can not only handle the design complexity of these environments, but also rapidly create prototypes and parts to withstand the high-performance requirements of racing,” said Pat Carey, senior VP at Stratasys. “Don Schumacher Racing is a great example of the power of additive manufacturing at work – and we’re excited to work alongside the team and tackle the most extreme challenges across their production environment.”
