Papadakis Racing shows off massive inconel 3D printed turbo manifold

Larger parts seem to be the trend for metal 3D printing lately. Maybe not yet mass produced large parts but certainly some big one-offs for custom luxury and racing cars. Leveraging the expertise and AM capabilities at AM and engineering services provider MIMO Technick, the Papadakis Racing team built an impressively large 3D printed turbo manifold for it latest racing vehicle.

The video shows off the entire process, from engine 3D scanning to part design, all the way to 3D printing, finishing and assembling the manifold’s components. The printing was carried out by MIMO Technik, a California metal AM and engineering services provider that operates in the AM space for aerospace, rocketry, defense and motorsport clients.

Perhaps even more interesting for the readers of this website is that MIMO Technik is not just supporting highly advanced, one-off motorsport projects but also producing some serious series of serial advanced automotive components for clients leveraging an impressive array of metal 3D printers.

The company invests significantly in the latest technology, software, processes, and parameter development. The AM-Center, PRINT METAL, in southern California is capable of offering series production by leveraging 5 SLM Solutions systems including two SLM 500 Quad-laser and three SLM 280 Twin-laser systems. The equally impressive roster of supported materials includes aluminum (AlSi10 Mg, Scalmalloy, AlSi7 Mg, AL-MMC), nickel (Ni-625, Ni-718, H-282, HX), cobalt chromium (M-M509, L-605/H-25) and stainless steel SS316, SS310, SS17-4, SS15-5) and titanium (TiAl6V4).

Another client of MIMO Technik is BBI Autosport, a company founded in 2005 with the mission of returning artistry and craft to the Exotic Tuning Market. Driven by pure passion, and on a motorsport foundation, BBI has become a household name in the Porsche Industry. With 30+ years of combined professional racing history fueling the engineering and development of performance parts and services, BBI Founders have participated in several Professional Racing Series including the Rolex Grand American Racing, American Lemans, 24 Hours Lemans (4 Races), 24hrs of Daytona (9 Races) and 12hrs of Sebring (8 Races).

For those who didn’t know (including the author of this article), the Papadakis Racing team is the most winning team in Formula Drift history, earning the 2015 title with driver Fredric Aasbo, as well as back­to­ back championship titles with driver Tanner Foust in 2007 and 2008. The Rockstar Energy Drink / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla Hatchback is the latest competition build from the Hawthorne, California, based team.

Team owner Stephan Papadakis is a legend of sport­ compact racing who began building his reputation in the 1990s with the first front-wheel ­drive, tube­-chassis drag car in the US. The team earned multiple records and championships in the discipline, turning in elapsed times and trap speeds previously thought unattainable in front­-drive drag cars. Papadakis’ successes in front­-wheel drive were matched by his efforts in rear­-wheel drive when he campaigned a Honda Civic that became just the fifth car to join the NHRA’s Sport Compact 200 MPH club