Laser Scanning and 3D Printing saves a 103 year old grand prix car.
I always like to learn about technology advancements that help us sustain a connection to the past.
Classic Aircraft restoration is one of those personal touch points.
I saw this article on the ABC (Australia) about the re-creation of an engine block using Laser Scanning and 3D printing.
They used powerful lasers, and scanned the existing engine block inside and out, saving thousands of hours of pattern making.
Delage Type-S
- In 1914 just three Delage Type-S cars were made for a premier race in Lyon, France
- World War I began a month after the race and racing in Europe came to a halt
- The Delage Type-S cars were sold to the US, then in the 1920s one of them was brought to Australia to race
- The car was driven by some of Australia’s earliest race car drivers and was owned by motor racing legend Lex Davison
Read how the Laser Scanning and 3D Printing saved the car.
If you go across to the ABC’s website, there’s a great video that shows you what they did with lots more information in the article.
The world’s only surviving 1914 Delage Type-S car is still running thanks to laser scanning and a 3D printer.
I imagine with the advancements in metallurgy and practices in casting over the last 103 years, the quality of the block would be of a better quality than the original.
Update 21/04/2017
The Team that did the work reached out to me in appreciation for the post. Here is there link to their site and the project: