Allowing them to fabricate a three dimensional part from a two dimensional sheet of metal in just hours.
Ford rapid prototyping sheet metal.
Can do sheet metal stampings in hours instead of weeks.
To speed up prototyping ford has created a rapid process they call the ford freeform fabrication technology f3t for short.
We would like to show you a description here but the site won t allow us.
Ford engineers are developing a highly flexible first of its kind patented technology to rapidly form sheet metal parts for low volume production applicati.
Over the last 100 years or so the ford motor company has gotten really good at stamping sheet metal parts.
Ford reveals new rapid prototyping and low volume production techniques w video.
Ford calls this ford freeform fabrication technology f3t.
This article provides an overview of some of the technologies used for rp and low volume production of sheet metal.
Sadly stamping can take up to 6 8 weeks from the time the design leaves the cad station so it s not great for prototyping.