Fused Deposition Modeling

Aftermarket innovations promise to enhance consumers’ relationships with the products they love — through personalization, by enabling niche uses, and by solving problems that only become obvious once consumers start using a product en-masse.

GROWit, a California additive manufacturing company, recently illustrated 3D printing’s potential to expand aftermarket offerings. GROWit’s customer is a go-kart maker that needed a redesign for a front-end component susceptible to breaking. 

Besides just fixing the part, the GROWit team designed modular customizations, including fenders with integrated headlights and a Formula One-style front end, and printed them in ABS plastic on a Fused Deposition Modeling system. You can read GROWit’s full account here.

It’s a great example of how fast, inexpensive, low-waste processes can spur creativity. Are you making specialized accessories that would have been unfeasible before additive manufacturing?

Related whitepaper: Limited-Edition Muscle Car Revival has 3D Printed Parts