Uniformity Labs Has Designed a 3D Printed Metal Roll Cage for a Solar-Powered Car

Uniformity Labs is a company specializing in manufacturing parts via 3D printing. Recently, they produced an ultra-low-porosity aluminum alloy (AISi10Mg) automotive component for a solar-powered race car. The part in question is a 3D printed roll cage that was made using selective laser sintering (SLS) on an SLM machine. Thanks to topological optimization, the part was designed to ensure the best strength while reducing the amount of metal powder used. The car is expected to compete in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, a car race in the Australian outback for solar-powered vehicles.

Once again, additive manufacturing has proven itself in the automotive sector. Prized for its ability to design custom parts that are both lighter and less expensive, parts made with AM do not require the creation of specific tools or molds, resulting in shorter manufacturing times. In this specific case, Uniformity Labs chose to turn to metal additive manufacturing and more specifically an AlSi10Mg aluminum alloy that was developed by the company.

The roll cage (photo credits: Uniformity Labs)

A 3D printed roll cage

The California-based company created a roll cage for a solar-powered car, a part that provides protection for the vehicle’s passengers. Printed on an SLM Dual Laser machine, it was made of aluminum with a layer thickness of 30 microns to provide the best possible surface appearance. Adam Hopkins, founder and CEO of Uniformity Labs, stated, “Our ultra-low porosity AlSi10Mg and print processes allowed the car development team to create a better part quickly, cheaply, and optimized for the necessary weight and safety parameters. It’s easy to see how the processes used, and benefits afforded to the roll-cage production can apply to the creation of complex parts for use in mainstream industries such as aviation, auto, and consumer electronics. That’s what our technology is all about.”