Case Study: Ford Motor Company improves Mustang quarter glass fixture ergonomics with Stratasys Direct Manufacturing

Ford Motor Company reduces Mustang quarter glass fixture weight to 10.65 lbs with Stratasys Direct Manufacturing

Ford Motor Company faced challenges with its heavy, inefficient, and costly CNC-machined fixture used for aligning the quarter glass on the Mustang. To address these ergonomic and production issues, Ford partnered with vendor Stratasys Direct Manufacturing and utilized FDM additive manufacturing to redesign the tool.

The solution from Stratasys Direct involved an ergonomically designed, 3D printed fixture that integrated pneumatic tubing and featured optimized supports. This new tool, made from Nylon 12 Carbon Fiber, weighed only 10.65 lbs and significantly improved operator sight lines and ease of use. The vendor's additive manufacturing process also allowed for rapid, low-cost iterative design changes, resulting in a more efficient and effective final product.

Ford Motor Company