GM’s Cadillac CELESTIQ Relies on World’s Largest Sand 3D Printer to Cast Car Parts

German 3D printer manufacturer voxeljet AG (NASDAQ: VJET) has been enlisted in the production of the Cadillac CELESTIQ from GM. In particular, its U.S. customer, Tooling & Equipment International (TEI), is utilizing the world’s largest sand 3D printer, the VX4000 from voxeljet, to 3D print sand cores the series production of large-format, weight-saving structural components for the CELESTIQ.

The CELESTIQ is anticipated to be a potential game changer for luxury cars and 3D printing. With over 100 3D printed parts, each version of the electric vehicle (EV) will be hand built, carrying a $300,000 price tag as a part of a limited series. Additive manufacturing (AM) is ideal for the task, given its ability to produce high-performance components at a lower cost compared to traditional production techniques for luxury automobiles.

Sand casting can be a crucial technology for producing large metal components, particularly for limited series such as this, where stamping is not a cost competitive. A GM supplier, TEI is using the VX4000 to 3D print a total of 51 sand cores to cast large, weight-saving elements for the underbody structure of the CELESTIQ. GM is replacing what would have been between 30 and 40 stamped components with six large precision sand-cast aluminum parts.

To produce the complex pieces as economically and lightly as possible, TEI 3D printed the inner cores. As a result, stiffening features can be incorporated into hollow sections of the core, which is not economically practical with conventional manufacturing. With the VX4000, TEI is able to mass produce hundreds of inner cores for several vehicles in a single night. Once printed, the cores are smoothed and given a fireproof coating before they are placed in sand molds and cast.

“By eliminating tools and taking advantage of the large build volume of the VX4000 printers, we can significantly reduce delivery times and produce lightweight components with optimized topologies. This would not be possible in the conventional way,” explains Oliver Johnson, President of TEI.

The machine measures a massive 4 x 2 x 1 meters and, after partnering with voxeljet in 2018, TEI has been turning out over 500,000 liters of 3D printed sand annually. This led TEI to acquire a third VX4000, making it the only US company to own three units and enabling it to feasibly turn out 2.5 million liters per year.

Whereas Desktop Metal (NYSE: DM) may hold the largest market share for sand 3D printers, voxeljet makes the largest versions of these machines. Incidentally, the binder jetting technology of each were initially derived from the same MIT licenses. Given the merger and acquisition activity of the last couple of years, voxeljet may be an acquisition target for Desktop, which is pushing its own robotic arm-based sand 3D printer.

As GM preps to roll out less than 1,000 units in 2024, we will surely hear from more suppliers to the auto giant that will be participating in the CELESTIQ project. We’ll also learn more about what AM technologies will be deployed. So far, we know that HP will be involved. One name we can guess to be in the mix is Divergent Technologies, which claims that it is working with eight of the top 10 automotive original equipment manufacturers.

Also worth considering is what the CELESTIQ means in the grand scheme of manufacturing, 3D printing, and automotive. Though Cadillac has traditionally been framed as a luxury brand, $300,000 is high price for a company that sells models for much less than $100,000. This new approach, along with the use of digital production and hand-craftsmanship, suggests a paradigm shift in the automotive industry.

As the world shifts away from fossil fuels and struggles to find replacement energy sources, will ordinary people still be able to afford to own their own cars? Or will new models of leasing, ride-sharing, and light e-mobility vehicles (e.g., scooters) replace that concept? It’s difficult to imagine the U.S. foregoing its love of cars altogether.

Relatedly, we have to wonder if AM will ever truly reach mass production levels or if, instead, all manufacturing will be reserved for a combination of cheap necessities for the masses and high-end luxuries for the upper middle class and above. Such a reality may take begin to take shape as peak resource use on the planet reveals itself more clearly.