EuroMold 2014: Show Off Your 3D Printing and Racing Prowess at Materialise’s Slot Car Races

And the crowds go wild! You may be already be getting your engine started just imagining yourself in Frankfurt at EuroMold 2014, one of the world’s largest trade fairs.

Materialise wants to add to the excitement, however, and invites you to enjoy the added bonus of getting in on some of the more fun aspects of 3D printing after hours. A Slot Car Race is being held by Materialise on Tuesday, November 25th from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm at Messe Frankfurt, Germany during the Materialise Evening Reception.

Slot car racing is currently one of the most popular underground trends featuring a competitive hobby where contestants race miniature automobiles guided by grooves or slots on the racetrack. Materialise is ready to introduce you to the world of slot car racing, and wants you to jump right in with your own 3D printed racecar.

While Materialise invites you to the racing challenge, first and foremost they are inviting you to show off and stretch your imagination with the technology of 3D printing, making a unique slot car to put on the racetrack, whether you are competing as an individual or as part of a team. This is an opportunity to highlight your creativity in front of your peers and industry specialists, as well as helping to put the spotlight on additive manufacturing.

If you’d like to join the race, find more information on registering here. You must also be registered to attend EuroMold. Even if you haven’t printed your own 3D printed slot car, Materialise will provide one for you so that you can also ‘channel your inner twelve year old.’

After registering and receiving your design, all you have to do is show up with your 3D printed slot car, or if you need one, stop by the Materialise booth before 4 pm to reserve one. To ensure the races are fair, only slot cars using the motor and the chassis provided in the Starter Kit can participate.

Once you register, you will be eligible to receive the link for your starter kit available for 40€ ($55). The starter kit includes:

• Chassis and motor for your slot car (1/24 scale)
• The .stl file for the chassis
• The rule book

The cars cannot be wider than 83 mm, and size requirements and limits are crucial since the cars are racing side by side. The following modifications are permitted for the chassis:

• Lead may be taped or glued to the top of the chassis.
• Tape may be added to the top of the chassis.
• The front axle may be soldered to the chassis.
• Front wheel retainers may be soldered to the front axle.
• Rear oilites may be soldered to the chassis.

The body must be 3D printed and must cover the chassis, being fixed to it by items sch as pins, clips, or sellotape. There are no rules governing body decoration of your 3D printed car. The motor, axes, and wheel designs cannot be changed, but 3D printed rims can be added.

Showcase your 3D printing prowess while everyone cheers on your design — or just enjoy a way to blow off some steam at the end of the day and act like a big kid. After your first day at EuroMold, this is an exciting venue for relaxing, enjoying food and drink, and hobnobbing with other designers, peers in your industry, and 3D printing enthusiasts.

If you are a passionate designer and you love to get into the thick of it with the crowd and the competition, this will be a great event for you to participate in. There will be a number of prizes awarded, and the 3D printed slot cars will race in the following categories:

• Fastest Lap
• Crowd’s Favorite
• Most Original Design
• Most Innovative Use of Additive Manufacturing
• Championship Winner

So, rev up and get ready to hear the sound of your 3D-printed car passing through slots on the race track in Germany.

If you want to race but won’t have your own 3D printed slot car, you can also email Charlotte.Delaere@materialise.be to reserve one. For more information on slot car racing with Materialise, click here. The EuroMold 2014 World Fair is being held in Frankfurt, Germany from Tuesday, November 25, 2015 through Friday, November 28th 2014.

Have you ever participated in slot car racing? Will you be at EuroMold 2014 and joining this race? Tell us about it in the EuroMold 2014 Materialise Slot Car Races forum at 3DPB.com.

Check out the slot car race at RAPID 2014 in the video below:

Materialise Slot Car Championships 2014: