The new John Deere tractors rolling off the manufacturing line in Germany will have the company’s first metal 3D-printed engine part.
A new direction and part of the company’s Smart Industrial Strategy, the 3D-printed stainless steel valve in the tractor’s fuel system, is about 50% cheaper and significantly smaller, using less material.
Jochen Müller, John Deere’s global digital engineering manager, says another benefit of 3D printing this particular part is added agility in the manufacturing process. Because 3D printing does not require moulds or tools, part prototypes were faster and cheaper to create, accelerating the design process. The design can be tweaked and improved at any time. Plus, no standing inventory is necessary when it comes to replacement parts.
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