We have seen a lot of potential uses of 3D printing but did you ever think that a car can ride on wheels that are just printed? Well, it is a reality now. HRE, in collaboration with GE Additive, has created the world’s first 3D-printed titanium wheel concept called HRE3D+, and it’s so stunning to look at.
The revolutionary wheels are created using “Electron Beam Melting” process which uses an electron beam to fuse titanium powder together. The concept wheel was made in five separate sections, which were then combined with a custom center section to a carbon-fiber rim using titanium fasteners. In future, the entire wheel could be made as a single-piece component.
To demonstrate how the new wheels look on the car, renderings with the McLaren P1 have been created and they just make the stunning P1 more attractive and sporty. “This is an incredibly exciting and important project for us as we get a glimpse into what the future of wheel design holds,” said HRE President Alan Peltier.
“Working with GE Additive’s AddWorks team gave us access to the latest additive technology and an amazing team of engineers, allowing us to push the boundaries of wheel design beyond anything possible with current methods. To HRE, this partnership with GE Additive moves us into the future,” he added.
Source: HRE Wheels