Automotive 3D Printing
From Cowley supplier prototypes to Silverstone race-weekend rush jobs.
Bicester3D sits between the Cowley supplier shops and Silverstone race weekends. Most of what runs through the workshop on the automotive side is short-run prototype parts on tight calendars — fit-checks, sensor brackets, race-team aero — in materials matched to the application. NDA on request.
Automotive supplier? Open a B3D for Business account.
Volume pricing, NET 30 terms, dedicated account contact, and a repeat-order workflow built for OEM supplier development cycles. Apply once, then reorder in seconds.
From design to finished part — CAD modelling for automotive components.
AUTOMOTIVE 3D PRINTING FAQ
Yes, with the right material. ABS and ASA both survive 95°C continuous (well above typical engine-bay air temperature for non-engine-mounted parts), and polycarbonate gets you to 110–130°C if needed. PLA isn't suitable — it softens at 55°C. Tell us where the part lives and we'll specify the right material at quote time. Note: parts going on safety-critical or homologated assemblies need engineering sign-off from your end — we don't certify aftermarket components for road use.
Routinely. Same-day printing is available on request when machine capacity allows; standard turnaround is 2–3 working days. We're 25 minutes from Prodrive HQ in Banbury and roughly 15 minutes from Silverstone via the A43, so collection is genuinely practical for tight-deadline work. WhatsApp the workshop ahead of a race weekend and we'll prioritise the print queue.
Yes — a regular request, especially for restoration projects, classic-car owners and the Bicester Heritage / Bicester Motion specialist tenants. Bring the worn or broken original to the Bicester workshop for 3D scanning, we build a clean parametric CAD model from the scan, then print in the right material for the application. PETG for under-trim parts, ASA for exterior-trim, polycarbonate for structural.
Routinely — we serve the Cowley BMW/MINI supplier ecosystem, JLR Banbury supplier base, and the broader M40 automotive corridor. Fit-check parts, supplier development pieces, tooling fixtures, batch prototypes. NDA on request before quoting. Trade accounts with negotiated rates and invoicing terms available for ongoing supplier-development relationships.
Depends entirely on where the part goes. Non-load-bearing, non-safety-critical applications (jigs, fit-check models, interior trim prototypes, ducting prototypes, fixture mounts, paddock equipment) — absolutely fine and routine. Safety-critical or structural parts (suspension components, brake hardware, anything affecting crash structure) — you need engineering sign-off and probably a different manufacturing process. We won't certify any 3D-printed part for road safety. Talk to us at quote time and we'll be honest about whether the application is appropriate.