3D printing institute Canada Makes, tooling specialist Precision ADM, and Electra Meccanica Vehicles (EMV), which makes electric cars, have formed a partnership to make an automotive battery box end cap using additive manufacturing (AM). The battery box cap part was manufactured using titanium (Ti64ELI) on Precision ADM's EOS M290 3D printer. ‘We thought titanium would be the best material for its strength to weight ratio,’ said Martin Petrak, CEO and president of Precision ADM. ‘It allowed a reduction of the wall thickness by half therefore reducing the weight while maintaining the parts strength and stiffness.’ ‘The part was delivered to spec and installed on a prototype in less than two weeks,’ added Frank Defalco, manager of Canada Makes. ‘This project highlights two of the main appeals in adopting additive manufacturing. The time saved receiving a working metal prototype, which speeds up new products to market, and significant weight savings of parts when designed for additive manufacturing.’ Electra Meccanica Vehicles; www.electrameccanica.comThe battery box cap part was manufactured using titanium.