RPG Industries, Inc. Uses Metal and Composite 3D Printing to Replace Vintage Carburetor for 1930's Car
Founded in 1995, RPG Industries offers EDM, CNC machining, waterjet cutting, and additive manufacturing services to automotive, aerospace, and oil industry clients. In the case of one auto client, 3D printing was the key to helping restore a classic.
RPG Industries utilized its Metal X to fabricate the reverse-engineered carburetor cap for a 1930s car.
Robert Ginsburg, President of RPG Industries, continuously looks for ways to stay on the cutting edge in a saturated industry, expand the business, and bring new capabilities in-house for his customers.
One such customer -- D&D Classic Automotive Restoration -- was restoring a 1930's classic car when they found that one of the original carburetors was broken. They conducted a worldwide search for a replacement part but were unable to locate one.
D&D then attempted to repair the existing part; however, the original could not be welded or brazed due to the need for an air- and watertight seal. "If you were to try to machine this part from scratch, it would be cost prohibitive," says Ginsburg. "The detail, intricacy, and the internals of the component make it nearly impossible, and the machine part will never look as good as the original."
The Solution
Ginsburg had been considering adding a metal 3D printer to his business for quite some time; however, he was only familiar with powder-based printers, which he believed did not make economic sense and are prone to workplace hazards.
(R) 3D printed 17-4 PH Stainless Steel carburetor; (L) original carburetor
But when he realized the Markforged Metal X 3D printer met his price point and was a safer option than other powder-based metal printers, Ginsburg knew he had found his solution. He purchased the Metal X system and a Mark Two 3D printer, and immediately put them to use.
Ginsburg initially used his Markforged Mark Two 3D printer to print the reverse-engineered carburetor cap using Markforged Onyx material (chopped carbon fiber-filled thermoplastic). He then 3D printed the same part in 17-4 PH Stainless Steel on his Metal X printer and presented it to the team at D&D as the final part and they were delighted with the result.
"Having the capability to quickly scan a broken part, make the repairs, and print it out has changed things for us," says Ginsburg. "And the capability of changing materials in Eiger with little-to-no fuss is just one of the reasons we love Markforged." The car was fully restored and is now back with its owner, boasting a fully functional metal 3D printed part under the hood.
The Future
Ginsburg is extremely pleased with the addition of his Metal X system and has put it front and center in his shop.
The team at RPG initially printed the replacement part in Onyx, and then printed it in 17-4 PH Stainless Steel.
"The Metal X is the first thing you see when you walk into the shop," says Ginsburg. "People are pretty amazed -- it's definitely given us a competitive advantage over other EDM competitors."
He hopes some of the smaller molds and tools that they fabricate traditionally can be printed on either the Mark Two 3D printer or Metal X before being put straight to use. "I think a lot of our workforce is, or was, indifferent to 3D printing. They didn't really understand why I was investing in this technology. Once they saw the results, I think pretty much everybody understood that it's a good fit."
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