Subaru halves tool production time with high-speed Stratasys 3D printing.
On automotive production lines, time is money. Today, 3D printing technology is accelerating its shift from "prototyping" to "direct tool manufacturing," bringing disruptive changes to production efficiency. Subaru of America recently demonstrated a compelling case in point.
By equipping its Stratasys F770 industrial 3D printer with the new T25 high-speed print head, Subaru successfully reduced the development and manufacturing time for tools, fixtures, and prototypes required on its assembly lines by more than half, while also significantly lowering costs.
What makes this technology so powerful?
Leap in Speed: For large tools nearly one meter in length, the T25 print head operates at nearly twice the speed of a standard head.
Balancing Cost and Quality: It not only enables rapid manufacturing but also ensures the dimensional accuracy and repeatability of parts, meeting the demanding conditions of production line use.
What changes has it brought?
Faster Response: Production lines receive tools earlier for testing, allowing internal teams to identify issues and modify designs ahead of time, reducing material and time waste at the source.
Reduced Dependence: The company has decreased its reliance on traditional external suppliers, bringing the manufacturing capability for critical components in-house.
Evolving Role: The role of 3D printing at Subaru has evolved from单纯的 purely R&D and prototyping to becoming an integral part of the production system, even capable of meeting short-term production needs directly.
A Subaru project engineer stated, "By providing parts earlier for internal customer validation, we can correct issues sooner and avoid waste." Stratasys also noted that this technology precisely addresses the core demands of manufacturing clients: "faster, better, and more cost-effective."
This case clearly demonstrates that industrial 3D printing is no longer a futuristic concept—it is tangibly reshaping the production cadence and supply chain logic of the automotive manufacturing industry.
