Stratasys reports that Subaru of America is accelerating automotive tooling development using the new T25 High Speed Head for the Stratasys F770 3D printer, cutting development times by more than 50% while reducing costs.

Among the first companies to adopt the technology, Subaru’s engineering teams use the T25 high-speed head to support the development of accessories and installation tooling. By bringing more production in-house, the automaker has reduced overall prototyping and tooling costs by 70%, while a 36-inch tool can now be produced almost twice as fast compared with the standard print head.

The increased throughput has enabled Subaru to consolidate tooling production on its Stratasys F770 platform, improving repeatability and part quality while providing a faster response to urgent manufacturing requirements.

“Being able to get the enhanced throughput with the F770 has made for a more reliable and robust operation,” says Matt Daroff, project engineering manager at Subaru of America. “Getting parts to our internal customers earlier gives them an opportunity to identify things we may not have caught in development, helping us make corrections sooner and minimise wasted time and material.”

Subaru’s experience highlights the potential of the T25 high-speed head, which delivers print speeds up to 2.3 times faster on large-format components while maintaining the quality required for industrial applications. The technology is designed to help manufacturers accelerate tooling production, shorten lead times and improve flexibility across prototyping and production workflows.

It also offers an alternative to traditional tooling methods, which can involve lengthy lead times, high machining costs and reliance on external suppliers.

“Our customers want the ability to move fast without sacrificing quality or incurring unnecessary costs,” says Rich Garrity, chief industrial business officer at Stratasys. “The T25 High Speed Head delivers exactly that.”

More information www.stratasys.com