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Local Motors launches design challenge for first 3-D printed car

Local Motors Inc., Phoenix, has launched the 3-D Printed Car Design Challenge to inform and influence the design of the vehicle that will be manufactured at IMTS – the International Manufacturing Technology Show 2014 in Chicago, Sept. 8-13, 2014. The six-week challenge continues through May 13. More than $10,000 in prize money will be awarded for winning challenge entries, which will be announced on May 30.

“Historically, producing a new vehicle from a new design has represented a significant investment in tooling and a large commitment in time to integrate multiple structures and components,” said Jay Rogers, Local Motors CEO. “This effort to design and deliver the first co-created vehicle using this digital technology and manufacturing process could change the process and speed in which vehicles are designed and built.”

Launched two months after Local Motors announced partnerships with the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, the 3-D Printed Car Design Challenge will seek to define innovations in the methodology associated with incorporating additive and subtractive manufacturing methods in vehicle design and development. Though this manufacturing method is compatible with any powertrain, for this first vehicle project, Local Motors has chosen to power the vehicle with a battery electric drive system

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This effort also includes the engagement of ORNL partner Cincinnati Incorporated and its Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) machine for large-scale 3-D printing.

To enter the challenge, designers are required to submit three distinct views of their project (side, three-quarter front, and three-quarter rear), one mise-en-scene view, and a description of the benefits and innovations associated with the concept. Submissions will be voted on by the Local Motors Community on localmotors.com, and judged by an independent panel of experts.

The winning designer will be awarded a $5,000 cash prize plus a trip to IMTS to participate in the printing of the first vehicle. Up to five Innovation Awards winners will receive cash prizes of $1,000 each for exceptional ideas or usages specific to the 3-D printing process. One award for Community Favorite, based on voting by the Local Motors Community, also will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize.

To view the challenge video, visit http://youtube/Mb3LK6SM1-Y.