https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZboxMsSz5Aw&feature=player_detailpage

Brian Trubee

Whoa... wait a minute... what is the tensile strength of the material?
Real wrenches are made from forged high strength steel.

I did the print manifold trick years ago Brian.

I guess you missed out.

It is easier to do a p-port as it fits all years (unlike a cast manifold) and yields 50 HP more.

Paul Lamar



I though it was interesting, certainly the process is not mature enough to trust to make a real manifold. Sometime in the future, perhaps.


I just read some literature put out by magnacor, it appears that using a braid over the spark plug leads and then grounding them might not be the best idea in the world. I just recieved the materials to make 4 leads using their EMI suppressing leads in the mail yesterday. I also borrowed a prop to use on the ground to get my RPMs up into the problem range for testing.  Keep your fingers crossed.
Brian Trubee

The process is fine for manifold  casting patterns but probably not for highly
stressed mechanical parts.

Paul Lamar


Here's a tip from someone on the inside of mainstream engine developement.
Printed manifolds are generaly used in a test lab environment. An engine is set up to be motored through the output shaft, and torque meter output measures the breathing losses. Never used on a combustion motor. We spin the ICE in test with an electric input motor on dyno drive. After the all the breathing losses have been optimized, a mold will be developed for preproduction intakes that will be used on a particular ICE model. Pressure molded fiber impregnated polymers are used at this phase of development.
The printed plastics don't have what it takes to endure real high  stress/temp operation with current production economies. DMLS technology will handle operational environments, but costs more than your airframe for that type of structure.

C.Smith