BigRep 3D prints a wheel rim with a unique design

German 3D printer manufacturer, BigRep, recently unveiled a 3D printed prototype of a completely original wheel rim. One of their designers, Marco Mattia Cristofori, wanted to show how large format additive manufacturing could be beneficial for the industry while offering greater freedom in design. To demonstrate this, they used wheel rims, one of the most customized vehicle components by car enthusiasts.

While 3D printing has already proven itself in the design of tires – such as seen with Michelin or the 3D printed Oxygene tire, a concept unveiled by Goodyear this year – it has hit the automotive sector again with a 3D printed rim. This metal part of the wheel can be customized according to the needs and wants of drivers, with more or less complex structures. This customization is usually achieved through injection molding techniques, often long and expensive. However, the use of additive manufacturing could alleviate this process and offer more freedom in terms of form and design.

“With 3D printing, you can prototype organic forms, like with our Terra chair,” said Cristofori. “It allows you to envision more complex shapes because you don’t really have any limits.” The 3D printed rim is the ultimate illustration of this freedom of design; the structure is reminiscent of interlaced tree branches that meet in the center. They offer all the necessary stability while conveying a strong enough aesthetic – as traditionally, hubcaps or rims are formed of a single line.