Japanese automobile company Daihastu and 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys said last year that clients of Copen would be able to design and assemble customized 3D printed exterior panels. Recently they announced that the large-scale customization system is fully prepared and is waiting to be tested.
At the moment, the Effect Skins have several different patterns and colors. All drivers could assemble and disassemble the panel according to their changing taste. It is said that there are totally 15 geometric and compound patterns to choose from. They are designed by the designers cooperating with this project. Besides, there are also 10 colors available.
It takes about two weeks to change the color of their cars. Traditionally, this whole process could have taken as long as two to three months. What’s more, clients could even redesign their exterior panels, which means drivers of Copen could create unique “skins” of their own!
Presently, Copen’s front/back bumper and mudapron are ready for assembling these creative panels. Printed by Fortus Production 3D printer from Stratasys, these exterior panels use thermoplastic materials that are durable and UV-resistant. The “Effect Skins” will be tested later this year and are going to be launched commercially in early 2017. By then, Japanese Copen users could turn themselves into exterior panel designers!
About Stratasys
Stratasys, Ltd. is a manufacturer of 3D printers and 3D production systems for office-based rapid prototyping and direct digital manufacturing solutions. Engineers use Stratasys systems to model complex geometries in a wide range of thermoplastic materials, including: ABS, polyphenylsulfone (PPSF), polycarbonate (PC) and ULTEM 9085.
Stratasys manufactures in-office prototyping and direct digital manufacturing systems for automotive, aerospace, industrial, recreational, electronic, medical and consumer product OEMs.
We are looking forward to seeing more creative combinations of different industries.
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