Now Anyone Can 3D Print the Local Motors Strati Car From Home
A couple weeks ago Local Motors made history by 3D printing the very first car within a 44 hour window, at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS). In doing so, the company was the recipient, naturally, of a ton of publicity. People who had never even heard of 3D printing before now knew about this incredible 3D printed vehicle, as worldwide news organizations covered the remarkable event. Besides bringing light to 3D printing as a technology, helping in its push to become a mainstream topic, Local Motors, and their 3D printed Strati gained a large number of fans.
As the company works behind the scenes to roll out what they hope will eventually be over 100 microfactories around the world, capable of printing out the Strati, as well as many other vehicle designs, within hours, they haven’t forgot about those of us at home.
When I spoke to Jay Rogers, the company’s CEO two weeks ago, he had mentioned that Local Motors will soon be releasing the actual STL files they used to print the Strati at IMTS. Today it seems like Rogers has fulfilled that promise, as the company has just released all of their 3D files at 1:10 scale, on their site.
The files include all the parts necessary to print your very own Strati out at home, including models of the wheels, steering shaft, suspension components, and even the pedal box. This would make a perfect weekend project, reminiscent of the car models you may have purchased at the store and glued together as a child.
The 3D printed 1:10 scale model
Local Motors has requested that those who 3D print this toy Strati model share an image of the final product with them. When Jay mentioned to me that the STL files would soon be released for free so that we all can print the vehicle at home, I asked him if he meant an actual size car. His reply:
“Not an actual size car, although I’m sure some people are going to try and do that too.”
It will be interesting to see if anyone goes above and beyond and tries to scale the model back to its full proportions, before breaking it up into manageable print jobs. With some of the creative projects I have seen in the last year of covering the industry, such an attempt would not surprise me at all.
If you do 3D print this vehicle (in any size) please feel free to post some images and details in the Local Motors Strati model forum thread on 3DPB.com. Check out some example prints below, as well as a video from the company with this announcement.
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