The U.S. auto industry wants to expand the use of 3D printers.

Automakers such as Ford Motor Co. and BMW AG are working directly with additive manufacturers concerning deployment of the technology.

Companies also are utilizing virtual and augmented reality to address manufacturing issues. And, as is the case with many other manufacturers, the auto industry wants to get the most out of Industry 4.0, where “connected” machines communicate with each other and with human operators.

At Ford’s new Advanced Manufacturing Center in the Detroit suburb of Redford, Mich., 3D printers, along with collaborative robots, are studied for ways to be used on the factory floor. The center’s virtual and augmented reality facilities are a way for Ford factories worldwide to deal with such issues as how to station […]

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