2020 Auto Parts Manufacturing

The car industry has developed well for quite some time. We have witnessed significant improvements in the automotive industry since the first car was produced in the 1860s. If you want to know more, you may visit: AutoProtoWay.com ( a professional automotive prototype custom manufacturer).

All of this can be attributed to the development of technology. Different technologies have been developed to come up with high-performance vehicles. They have also been widely used in auto parts manufacturing. The different parts you see in a car have to go through a special manufacturing process to get that aesthetic allure and also become functional as required. There is a wide range of car parts manufactured using the latest technology.

What Kind of Parts Are Required for the Automotive Industry?

There are several parts needed for the automotive industry. One of them is the engine. It acts more like the heart of any vehicle. Without the engine, then you don’t have a car at all. The other essential part of the automotive industry is lighting. Car lights are made up of headlights, tail lights, fog lights, signal lights, brake lights, driving lamps, and hazard lights. The headlight is the most used type, and it is made up of different parts. They include the bulbs, housing, reflector, projector lens, highlight lens, and turn signal. Other essential car parts include the dashboard, fluid system, carburetor housing, exhaust parts, and valve retainers.

Rapid Prototyping Methods for Making Automotive Parts

A wide range of technologies can be used for automotive parts manufacturing. Common types include injection molding, 3D printing, sheet metal fabrication, CNC machining, rapid tooling, and three-dimensional modeling. Let’s have a look at some of them as bellows:

CNC Machining – It is an automated technology that involves the use of computers to control machines like lathes and drills. This method is best for the production of accurate parts in large numbers and speeds up the auto parts manufacturing process.

• Injection Molding – It involves the insertion of molten materials into a cavity. The equipment is designed to take the shape, size, and configuration of the mold after it cools. This is ideal for the production of plastic car parts.
• 3D Printing – This method involves the use of 3D printing devices to add layers to products. It is computer-controlled and designed to create parts with a precise and quality finish. Now, it is widely used in making prototypes and models for auto parts manufacturing.
• Rapid Manufacturing – It is among the latest technologies used in automotive production and makes it easy to produce many parts within a short period.
• Rapid Prototyping – It is a great manufacturing technology that uses CNC in production and soft tooling with silicone modeling. Rapid prototyping is excellent for increased accuracy levels in auto parts manufacturing.
• Sheet Metal Fabrication – It is ideal for the creation of car body parts, vehicle restoration, and roll cage work, making it the best for the production of performance and safety parts.
• Soft Tooling-It is ideal for the production of low volume parts in the automotive industry. Soft tooling can be done effectively with silicone molding. You will get high-quality prototypes and quality products through this method.

CNC Machining in Automotive Parts Manufacturing

CNC machining is a computer regulated method known for the production of high precision parts from materials such as metal and plastic. The digital model of a specific car part is programmed or converted into machine instructions. These instructions are fed into a CNC machine where specific tools will cut them from a piece of raw materials.

Cutting tools used in this process include lathes, mills, grinders, and drills. It comes in different configurations like 3-axis and 5-axis. CNC machining for automotive parts manufacturing is ideal because of its production speed, precision, customization, repeatability, and automation. It is best for producing parts of a car, such as the interior panels, cylinder heads, starter motors, drive axles, gearboxes, and other custom parts. CNC machining is also super convenient and cost-effective.