Ford begins producing car parts using a giant 3D printer

Imagine picking out the perfect engine, wheels and steering system and then assembling the pieces together to make your dream car. That's how cars could be made in the future, according to Ford, who has built a giant 3D printer that can produce almost any part of a full-sized vehicle. The company said its invention could be used to produce cheap and light-weight 3D-printed cars, with personalised vehicle parts. To produce a 3D car part, the desired piece is first designed using a computer programme. Specifications for a part are then transferred from the programme to the printer's computer, which analyses the design.