Article contains images

Is this the world's first 3D printed car? A New Zealand man is building a vehicle based on the Aston
Martin DB4 using a 3D printer.
Ivan Sentch has already made a kit car using his Solidoodler 3D printer, now he's working on a
replica of the classic Aston Martin using a fiberglass mold.
He told Solidoodler he is using Autodesk 3DS Max for the slicing and AllyCad to print out MDF
shapes onto paper.
3D printing has grown over the past few years, with firms such as MakieLab producing the first CEcertified 3D printed toys and handing custom dolls to Prince Harry and David Cameron.
Maplin will soon stock 3D printers priced at £699.99, with customers able to pre-order them now.
Check out more images of the 3D printed Aston Martin DB4 car here:

Nasa tests 3D-printed rocket engine fuel injector
3D-printed injector component Nasa says 3D printing could one day be used by astronauts to make replacement parts Continue reading the main story Related StoriesStratasys buys MakerBot for $403m [/news/technology-22984875]US orders removal of 3D-gun designs [/news/technology-22478310] Building the first 3D-printed house [/news/technology-22152212]
Nasa has announced it has successfully tested a 3D-printed rocket engine part.

The US space agency said that the injector component could be made more quickly and cheaply using the technique.

The part is used to deliver liquid oxygen and hydrogen gas to an engine's combustion chamber.

The news follows General Electric's revelation that it planned to use 3D printing technology to make fuel nozzles for its jet engines.

Nasa said that California-based Aerojet Rocketdyne had made the injector using a method called selective laser melting (SLM).

The technique involves turning a computer-designed object into a real-world part by controlling a high-powered laser beam which melts and fuses thin layers of metallic powders into the preordained shape.

The test part was smaller than would be used in a full-size rocket, but large enough to test it could withstand the heat and pressure involved.

Nasa said the component would normally have taken a year to make because of the exact measurements involved, but by using SLM the manufacturing time was cut to less than four months and the price reduced by more than 70%.

"Nasa recognises that on Earth and potentially in space, additive manufacturing can be game-changing for new mission opportunities, significantly reducing production time and cost by 'printing' tools, engine parts or even entire spacecraft," said Michael Gazarik, Nasa's associate administrator for space technology.

SLM is not the only unusual manufacturing technique being explored by Nasa.

The agency has also asked researchers at Washington State University to see whether it would be possible to 3D-print objects out of powder made from lunar rocks.

It is also testing a process called electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3) which uses a computer-controlled electron beam gun placed in a vacuum that welds metal wires into complex shapes and patterns.

It has suggested the process could be used by astronauts to make spare parts in space.

Design competition

Nasa's announcement comes a month after General Electric announced a competition for third-parties to create the best 3D-printable design for an aircraft engine bracket - the part used to support the engine when it needs to be serviced.

Leap engine General Electric is using 3D-printed parts in a new range of turbofan engines
The firm will divide a $20,000 (£13,300) cash prize pool between the eight best performing designs after they are built and tested between August and November.

The US company has already used SLM to produce parts for its upcoming Leap (Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion) family of turbofan engines, made in conjunction with France's Snecma.

It has said the process allowed it to make a single widget rather than having to solder 15 to 20 parts together, helping cut its weight and boost the engine's fuel efficiency.