Launched last year, the Tesla Model Y is an all-electric SUV and the fourth vehicle in Tesla's lineup. Despite the fact that this car is made using traditional manufacturing processes, the Munro Live YouTube channel, owned by engineering company Munro & Associates, revealed an interesting fact: Tesla 3D prints spare parts to replace defective molded components.
Tesla Model Y disassembly
It is the title of a YouTube video series produced by Munro Live . The concept is simple, in each video a component of a Model Y car is disassembled and examined from a technical point of view. Munro & Associates, the parent company of the channel, is an engineering and consulting company that specializes in helping clients improve their processes. The experience they can provide spans a range of industries and of course Munro & Associates is well versed in the automotive industry.
In episode 23 of her Model Y playlist, Sandy Munro takes a look at the car's HVAC and talks about some of the cool things they found. And for 3D printing professionals, this is nothing to say.
On the crankcase, Munro points to two nozzles. One of them was molded successfully, while the other was apparently removed and replaced. The protrusions present under the component leave no doubt that Tesla has resorted to FDM 3D printing for this part.
Credit & Copyright: Munro Lives, Model Y E23 - Octovalve Manufacturing Processes, HVAC Summary, 3D Printing, Patreon Giveaway, YouTube
What would Tesla use for 3D printing?
It is very likely that a defect in the HVAC case was noticed during the manufacturing process, which usually needs to be shut down while the molds are being repaired.
Holding up production lines is a situation that manufacturers want to avoid at all costs, which is why Tesla has turned to 3D printing to solve this problem. While the HVAC molds were being repaired, Tesla could simply cut out the faulty connectors and replace them with the correct 3D printed ones.
Therefore, this connector, however low its resolution, tells us how pragmatic and resourceful Tesla can be when solving problems.
In his video, Munro noted that they had never seen such a feature before and that it was a very effective way to solve production problems during tool modification.
This example from Tesla shows us that with the right dose of ingenuity, manufacturing can be improved in many ways when using 3D printing along with other processes . When it comes to additive manufacturing in the automotive industry , it also sets the stage for amazing projects.
Main image credit: Tesla