In the past we have seen how 3D printing can be used to print chassis for vehicles, or even fully-functioning motorcycles. However for the most part, it is typically the exterior of the vehicle that is 3D printed while its innards remain the same, but that could change in the future especially after getting a look at this 3D printed Chevrolet LS3 V8 engine.
If you check out the video above, you wouldn’t be blamed if you thought that the engine in question is a regular engine, but in reality the entire thing (save for the bearings and fasteners) was 3D printed from scratch. This was made by Eric Harrell who claims that the entire project took about 200 hours and required over 2 kilograms of filament to make.
In his description, Harrell writes, “Fully working LS3 model. Everything was 3d printed except for the bearings and fasteners. Some parts were modeled from CAD files floating around the internet while others were modeled from pictures, repair manuals, and diagrams.” We have to say that it is something of a technological marvel as everything seems to move and function like a proper engine.
Of course using it in an actual car would not be possible due to the amount of heat generated and the subsequent wear and tear, but it does show how far along 3D printing has come.