ORNL & the world’s first 3D-printed car

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 Brian Post, left, who has a postdoctoral appointment in Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s manufacturing systems research group, and Andrew Messing, a lab intern and University of Tennessee undergraduate student, sit in the 3-D printed car Tuesday that’s being built at the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago. The vehicle is called the Strati, and it’s being printed by Local Motors using additive manufacturing techniques that were pioneered at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  A number of specialists from ORNL’s Advanced Manufacturing Program are in Chicago for the big event. According to information from Local Motors, the vehicle’s body is being 3D-printed in one piece using direct digital manufacturing. “Mechanical components like battery, motor, wiring and suspension are sourced from a variety of suppliers, including Renault’s Twizy, a line of electric-powered city cars,” the company stated. The first drive of the assembled Strati is to take place on Saturday. (ORNL photo/Jennifer Palmer)

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About Frank Munger

Senior Writer Frank Munger covers the Dept. of Energy's Oak Ridge facilities and many related topics — nuclear weapons, nuclear waste and other things nuclear, environmental cleanup and science of all sorts. Atomic City Underground is, first and foremost, a news blog, but there's room for analysis, opinion and random thoughts that have no place else to go.