German multinational automotive company BMW Group, has introduced the BMW Individual M850i Night Sky car, including parts made by additive manufacturing.
Through the company’s customization facility BMW Individual Manufaktur, in Garching, Germany, the one-off M850i Night Sky was designed in anticipation of an intense meteor shower which took place earlier this week.
Using aluminum and meteoritic rock materials, the new model is equipped with 3D printed brakes calipers, side mirror caps, and air intakes.
An extraterrestrial vehicle
To commence 2019 the earth briefly passed through the orbit of the 2003 EH asteroid – believed to be derived from a 500-year-old comet named C/1490Y1. As such, fragments of the rock landed on our planet as meteorites. Some of these fragments have been integrated into 3D printed components of the M850i Night Sky.
Keeping with the galactic theme BMW Individual Manufaktur incorporated the Widmanstätten pattern, a 3D octahedral structure that appears in iron meteorites, into the car’s interior and 3D printed components.
3D printed components of the M850i Night Sky
3D printing in the M850i is integrated into the following aluminium parts: brake calipers, mirror caps, the exterior for the air filters on the front side panels of the car, as well as the center mesh plate.
As in Bugatti’s landmark brake caliper test, BMW engineers were able to reduce the mass of its own callipers using generative design. The final design takes a bone-like form with an optimum balance between component rigidity and weight. Brake fluid channels were also integrated into the structure of the calipers for a streamlined design.
The remaining components, such as mirror surrounds, were 3D printed for a more custom-aesthetic.
BMW Individual Manufaktur collaborated with researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, also located in Garching, to complete the truly one of kind vehicle.
3D printing at BMW
BMW has previously demonstrated design innovations using additive manufacturing with its 3D printed chassis for the S1000RR motorcycle. In addition, the company created the first 3D printed metal component used in a production series vehicle, a roof bracket for the BMW i8 Roadster.
Furthermore, BMW has also invested €10 million in an Additive Manufacturing Campus scheduled to open this year.
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Featured image shows The BMW Individual M850i Night Sky. Photo via BMW Group.
