Software Review: Rapid Prototypes for Speedy Race Cars

A NASCAR racecar shop uses direct digital manufacturing to build prototypes for car components. As a NASCAR race-car manufacturer, we call our main vision “concept to car.” The phrase sums up our push to keep a competitive edge by moving from idea to physical component as swiftly as possible. Race cars are no different from many engineering endeavors in that designs often require several changes before approval. So our shop makes lots of prototypes to test on cars for form and fit. About five years ago, to speed the prototyping phase, we started using direct-digital-manufacturing (DDM) technology called fuseddeposition modeling (FDM) from Today, we use the FDM 400mc, one of the company’s recent machines. Examples of parts we prototype include alternator brackets, oil-pan pieces, and steering mechanisms. In one design, a complex steering mechanism with six separate