Vat photopolymerization offers unmatched precision for polymer additive manufacturing, yet its scalability in automotive applications has been constrained by slow recoating and resin adhesion challenges. This work presents a novel printing interface engineered to minimize resin adhesion to the window while optimizing resin flow, enabling rapid layer recoating and dramatically increasing throughput. The interface design not only accelerates print speed but also provides a scalable pathway for small‑ to medium‑volume production of end‑use automotive components. Case studies conducted at Nissan demonstrate successful prototyping and pilot production of complex plastic parts, highlighting how this advancement transforms vat photopolymerization from a prototyping tool into a viable production technology for automotive manufacturing.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, participants will be able to describe the novel printing interface for vat photopolymerization and demonstrate how it enables higher throughput and scalable production of automotive components.
Upon completion, participants will be able to analyze automotive case studies demonstrating how improved vat photopolymerization throughput and scalability enable prototyping and pilot production of small‑ to medium‑volume automotive parts.
Upon completion, participants will be able to evaluate the scalability of vat photopolymerization enabled by the novel printing interface and assess its potential for integration into automotive manufacturing workflows.
