Malcolm Nicholls Ltd
Wheel arch printed on RPS' NEO 800 by Malcolm Nicholls Ltd.
Wheel arch printed on RPS' NEO 800 by Malcolm Nicholls Ltd.
Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) has harnessed 3D printing service provider Malcolm Nicholls Ltd (MNL) to produce prototypes for the company’s BAC Mono R supercar.
MNL used RPS’ NEO 800 stereolithography platform to print a series of parts using materials from DSM, a company which is collaborating with BAC to identify 3D printing applications for the Mono R model.
Among the prototyped parts produced by MNL are rear light clusters, the wider rear wing, wing mirror stays, front light bezels and rear wheel arches. The rear wheel arches were printed with DSM’s Watershed resin in a single build within the NEO 800’s 800 x 800 x 600 mm build area and required no post-processing according to the partners. This, teamed with the parts being printed in single pieces, allowed them to complete the turnaround of the prototypes much quicker than they have previously managed.
“We pride ourselves on being the ultimate pioneers at BAC and joining forces with DSM, RPS and MNL meant we once again led the way, this time in terms of additive manufacturing,” commented Ian Briggs, Design Director of BAC. “Keeping the Mono R as light as possible was of paramount importance in its development and by using 3D printing, we not only keep the kilograms down, but also keep sustainability and safety on the up. Using additive manufacturing was crucial for keeping design-to-manufacture times down and allowing us to meet tight deadlines with ample creative freedom, while the quality of the finished result is testament to the work of the NEO 800.”
“BAC is showing classic British innovation and engineering excellence which is truly exemplified in the Mono R supercar development,” David Storey, Director of RPS added. “We are thrilled that the NEO 800 was behind the printed parts used on the car and thankful to be involved in such an amazing project. Teaming up with the likes of Malcolm Nicholls and DSM meant the project was always in good hands and we hope to see further innovation from BAC soon.”
BAC launched the Mono R supercar at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer, with the DSM alliance being announced in the days after. The company is working to develop supercars with pure designs, innovative engineering and ultra-high performance, and is banking on additive manufacturing technologies to help enable that goal.
