AMR Software
AMR Data Centers

Legendary Ferrari 312P’s Race Engine is Refurbished, Thanks to 3D Printing and Voxeljet

Share this Article

ferrari-carThe year was 1969, and Ferrari was returning from their boycott of sports car racing, after protesting a rule change the previous year, which had caused their 4-litre 330 P4 to be banned. This was the year that they would introduce their legendary 3000cc prototype, the Ferrari 312P. The car was a beauty, and it had a beast of an engine.

In fact, the “312” in its name, explains that the car featured 3 liter displacement, with 12 cylinders. The “P” meant it was a prototype. The car’s 60 degree V12 engine is capable of putting out an astonishing 430 HP.

Unfortunately for older cars, especially those with very limited production runs, it is very expensive, complicated, and time consuming to refurbish their engines. Traditionally it would take at least a year, and require a great deal of money.

Fortunately however, we now live in an era that includes 3D printing, and thanks in large part to German 3D printer manufacturer Voxeljet, the engine of the car was able to be refurbished in just a few weeks.

Those that worked on this project used reverse engineering to accomplish this feat. They utilized mobile measurement arms, which were able to generate 3D data of the cylinder heads. Once this was complete, Voxeljet took it from there. Their extremely precise 3D printers created seven sand components, including one each for the upper and lower box, and 5 sand cores, which formed the entire cast form.

The lower box

The lower box

“Reverse engineering with 3D printing is by far the most efficient method for reproducing components that are no longer available,” explained Voxeljet CEO Dr. Ingo. “Often, it is the only way to reproduce certain components quickly and at reasonable cost. Thus there is considerable demand for 3D printing in this area. We are of course very pleased that our technology was a contributing factor in the successful engine overhaul of a Ferrari 312P.”

ferrari-casting3

Once the sand molds were complete, they were sent to Wilhelm Funke in Alfeld an der Leine, to be cast in a special aluminum allow. The Ferrari 312P will soon be on the road again!

Discuss the overhaul of this engine, and how 3D printing is making the refurbishment of old cars much easier than it was in the past, in the Ferrari 312P overhaul thread on 3DPB.com



Share this Article


Recent News

Stratasys Acquires Forward AM’s Operations and Assets, Launches Mass Additive Manufacturing

Metal Powder Supplier Elementum 3D Added to $46B Air Force Contract



Categories

3D Design

3D Printed Art

3D Printed Food

3D Printed Guns


You May Also Like

Nikon SLM Solutions Partners with ATI and Bechtel Plant Machinery on 3D Printed Hypersonics

One of the world’s most demanding technical challenges is the creation of maneuverable hypersonic vehicles. The country that does so well will command the ultimate high ground. They will essentially...

3D Printing Financials: Velo3D Looks to Bounce Back with Defense Deals

Velo3D (OTCQX: VLDX) is working hard to get back on track. The metal 3D printing company brought in $9.3 million in revenue during the first quarter of 2025, slightly below...

3D Printing Financials: Stratasys Kicks Off 2025 with Fresh Cash and a Tight Grip on Strategy

Stratasys (Nasdaq: SSYS) started the year with strong momentum, adding fresh cash to its balance sheet and achieving profitability on an adjusted basis. The company also gained a new investor,...

Featured

Chaos & Opportunity

Great fortunes are lost and won amidst quicksand. When well-trodden paths turn to labyrinths, the concrete is sublimated into morass, sunshine turns to hail, and 20/20 vision becomes blindness; new...