We’ve seen 3D printing technology used for cars before, but never in a way like this. 3D artist SANAGO used a 3D pen to make a Porsche Taycan body for an RC car himself, and it even has working lights. However, unlike a normal 3D printer, which makes a model with a series of layers, he chose to make it with a set of “body panels”, leaving the interior hollow.
3D SANAGO starts by making wireframes of each part of the car using blueprint drawings. He then joins the pieces together by melting their corners and adds structure to the frame with more lines running through each panel. Once you finish making the body, use circular motions to completely fill the surface and prepare it for the next step: smoothing.
Watch: The Porsche Taycan beat a 911 GT3 RS and a 911 GT3 Cup in a drag race
To smooth out the bodywork, use a welder, heating the plastic to allow it to stretch, but not enough to compromise the shape of the car. The next step is painting, but before that happens the car needs to be sanded. Take an electric grinder to the bodywork, making sure you don’t miss any spots, then sand it with progressively finer grits of sandpaper until the surface is nice and even.
For the next step, 3D SANAGO covers the body with a layer of putty to make it even smoother, then sands it again to finish the surface. For the detailed parts of the car, like the lights, mirrors, and bumper trim, he makes the parts separately and glues them together.
See Also: Porsche Brings Entry-Level Taycan To The States, Starts Under $80,000
Finally, we come to the main event: the painting. 3D SANAGO starts by applying a primer coat. Then add the green paint and follow up with a clear coat. To top it off, add an LED system to create the work lights as well as the windows, badges and panel gaps.
The whole process is pretty impressive, and you can see it all for yourself in the video below.
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