Stratasys becomes official 3D printing partner of NASCAR

Stratasys has announced an expanded long term technical partnership with Nascar, making it the official 3D printing partner. NASCAR will now exclusively use Stratasys 3D printing technology for the design and production of parts and tools, replacing previous technologies used alongside Stratasys’ solutions.

The official partnership cements the company’s role as a critical technology provider, with a new 3D printing lab set to open at the NASCAR Research & Development Centre in Concord, North Carolina. The facility features multiple Stratasys technologies, including F370, 450mc, F900 (FDM printers) and a NEO800 (SL printer) to support research and development, parts production, and tooling for NASCAR’s three national series. Engineers will benefit from the agility of 3D printing, which allows for faster design cycles and on-demand production of custom components, keeping them at the cutting edge of performance and safety.

‘Partnering with Stratasys allows NASCAR to push the boundaries of performance and accuracy like never before,’ said John Probst, executive vice president, chief racing development officer at NASCAR. ‘Its 3D printing technology empowers us to quickly iterate and optimise components, ensuring that our staff have the best possible machines to stay ahead in this high stakes environment. Stratasys has proven to be a valuable partner, and this agreement represents our commitment to staying at the forefront of motorsports innovation.’

As part of the expanded partnership, Stratasys will increase the existing FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) capabilities within the research and development centre, allowing for larger scale part production. In addition to FDM technology, NASCAR will now integrate Neo stereolithography (SL). These technologies will support a variety of applications, from aerodynamic testing, prototyping and production parts with high precision tooling, further enhancing the design and manufacturing flexibility that 3D printing brings to the sport.

The organisation’s engineers worked with Stratasys on solutions for NASCAR Cup Series cars, with every vehicle on the track currently using 3D printed parts. For example, working with Stratasys Direct Manufacturing for on-demand production parts using the H350 SAF printer with plant based Nylon11 material to produce a cold air inlet vent at the top centre of the windshield to force air into the car to cool the driver. FDM printers using Ultem 9085 black material produce a NACA duct located on the lower engine panel, to vent hot air out from the engine bay.

‘Our partnership with NASCAR allows Stratasys to showcase the unique advantages of 3D printing in motorsports,’ said Rich Garrity, chief business unit officer. ‘From on-demand manufacturing of custom components to speeding up the design cycle, we are helping NASCAR with faster production times and enhanced part performance. Furthermore, our work in high performance environments like NASCAR spurs innovation in the production of commercial vehicles, demonstrating the broader impact of additive manufacturing across the automotive industry.’