Customer: AUTO MANUFACTURER ELECTRIC VEHICLES
INDUSTRY: AUTOMOTIVE - PRE-SERIES PRODUCTION
Technology: innovatiQ TiQ 2 Plus - industrial 3D printer
Material: PA-CF (carbon fiber reinforced polyamide)

Introduction/challenge
The development of new vehicle components at an electric vehicle manufacturer regularly requires customized bumper brackets that have complex geometries and must meet high mechanical requirements. These components are essential to securely connect the front or rear bumpers to the body and to withstand crash and vibration loads. In the pre-series phase, it is important to obtain functional parts quickly in order to be able to realistically test assembly processes, installation space and load tests - even before cost-intensive injection molding tools are produced. The aim here is to obtain functional parts quickly and cost-effectively for tests, accuracy of fit and functional tests.

The manufacturer uses the Tiq 2 Plus from innovatiQ to directly produce customized pre-series models for various brackets:

• Process: FDM printing with PA CF, low weight, very good dimensional stability
• Design freedom: Ideal topological adaptation to the installation situation
• Interface for assembly: integrated clips, holes and reinforcements for screws or rivets
• Agility: Changes to the CAD model can be immediately implemented in new print jobs → Iteration time reduced from weeks to a few days

In-house pre-series production of bumper brackets on innovatiQ's TiQ 2 Plus industrial 3D printer brings enormous benefits: faster development cycles, lower costs, high flexibility and the ability to adapt and test realistic functional components without high tooling costs.

Print example: Brackets and assembly elements

Printer: innovatiQ TiQ 2 Plus

Material: PA-CF