3D Printing Classic Car Parts That No Longer Exist | Additive Restoration

Steven Dibdin, founder of Additive Restoration, uses 3D scanning, CAD and 3D printing to recreate obsolete parts for rare Ferraris, Alfa Romeos, Maseratis and other classic cars. In one project, he rebuilt the destroyed front end of a Ferrari 275 GTB using only a handful of old photographs.What do you do when the part your priceless car needs simply doesn’t exist anymore? We head north of New York City to Dominick’s European Car Repair, a specialist vintage car garage owned by Santo Spadaro, to find out.In this episode:How a 3D-printed rotor arm for a 1955 OSCA, a car built by the Maserati brothers, fixed an engine that had been firing on only half its sparks for around 20 years.Why airflow analysis on a recreated Lotus Elan airbox revealed that the original design starved one carburettor of air, and how an invisible redesign fixed it.How 3D scanning acts as an “expensive undo button” for valuable cars, capturing their shape, livery, racing numbers and even historic dents.Rebuilding an alloy-bodied Ferrari 275 GTB after a high-speed collision with a deer, using 3D scans, four pre-crash photographs and a CNC-cut plywood body buck that slotted together like flat-pack furniture.PTC’s Michele del Mondo on what restoration teaches the wider automotive industry. He covers tracking each vehicle’s exact configuration in the era of software-defined cars, and why manufacturers should simulate before they tool.Chapters:00:00 Introduction01:29 Founding Additive Restoration02:50 First Big Win: OSCA Rotor04:35 Authenticity Over Speed07:05 Airbox Fix and Redesign07:43 3D Scanning to Create an Undo Button09:29 The “IKEA” Ferrari Rebuild14:08 Expert Take from PTCGuests:Steven Dibdin, Founder, Additive RestorationMichele del Mondo, PTC Automotive Industry AdvisorRecorded at Dominick’s European Car Repair, owned by Santo SpadaroLinks:Find out more about Additive Restoration here.Find out more about PTC solutions here.Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates.This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive Producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Michael Satow. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.

Modern conflict is evolving rapidly. How is the defense industry keeping pace? In this special bonus episode of The Third Angle in conversation, we visit MBDA's UK headquarters in Stevenage to discover how this European leader in complex weapons systems is meeting aggressive targets to cut program timelines by up to 50%.MBDA employs over 19,000 people globally, designing advanced missile and defense technologies with more than 50 years of expertise. Host Paul Haimes sits down with Matt Beaumont, Senior Vice President for Mechanical Engineering at MBDA, inside their digital battle space facility.Matt's philosophy is clear: "more haste, less speed." Cutting cycle times means maximizing valuable design time by eliminating non-value-added tasks. Operating in a single source-of-truth environment allows teams to work faster and with confidence, giving engineers time to get designs right with production and the entire value chain in mind. This approach has led them to double production output between 2023 and year-end, far beyond the industry-standard 10% annual growth. Throughout the conversation, one theme emerges: trust in data. Single source-of-truth enables parallel development streams where multiple disciplines work from continuously updating models rather than serial baseline handoffs, and it's the foundation for AI's future competitive advantage.Find out more about MBDA here.Find out more about Windchill here.Find out more about Creo here.Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates.This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive Producer is Jacqui Cook.

What if you could transform any standard bicycle into an e-bike in seconds, then switch back just as easily? That's the concept behind Skarper, a company based in Camden, North London, who have developed a groundbreaking clip-on disc drive system that is changing everything we know about e-bikes.Skarper co-founder Dr. Alastair Darwood wanted the power of an e-bike without the bulk and expense. But when Skarper was founded in 2020, there were literally no components on the market small enough to fit their vision. The team spent years designing and developing their own ultra-compact speed controller to create some of the smallest, most powerful components in the e-bike industry. The device is small enough to fit in a shoebox, rather than the massive boxes traditional e-bikes require, making the Skarper system much more sustainable than other solutions. Every Skarper sold means one less heavy e-bike manufactured. Plus, Skarper extends the lifespan of bicycles for years, embracing the circular economy by reusing what's already built, and adding only what's needed.We travel to Skarper’s headquarters in Camden to meet Alastair and COO Uri Meirovich, who show us their sophisticated bike testing rigs, and tell us about how their development partnership with Red Bull Advanced Technologies brought Formula One-grade engineering rigor to consumer cycling. Alastair also takes us on a short bike ride around North London to demonstrate how riders can switch seamlessly between eco, cruise, and turbo modes using the Skarper app.Find out more about Skarper here.Find out more about Arena here.Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates.This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive Producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Geoff Marsh. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.

What if you could build a yacht that combined the speed and efficiency of a racing craft with the grandeur of a floating villa? That was the vision founder Peter Johnstone brought to life when he launched Gunboat in 2002, creating an entirely new category of high-performance cruising catamaran. Gunboat's twin-hull design provides remarkable stability compared to traditional monohulls, allowing the deck to stay flat and maintain pace even in challenging sea conditions. Carbon fiber is used to construct the catamarans for extreme lightness and exceptional durability that lasts forever. The lightweight design isn’t just about speed, but also sustainability. Lighter boats sail more and motor less. With solar integration, electric systems, and ongoing research into recycled composites and bio-resilient materials, these vessels represent responsible seamanship for the future. We traveled to Gunboat’s purpose-built shipyard in La Grande-Motte in southern France to meet Rodolphe Cadoret, Marketing Director at Gunboat. Rodolphe walks us through every stage of the building process, from the composite workshop through to assembly, carpentry, and the meticulous painting rooms where flawless metallic finishes emerge. He gives us a full picture of how, supported by PTC partner 4CAD, Gunboat uses digital precision to transform physical performance on the water. PTC's Brian Thompson then joins us to explain how Creo's model-based approach and integrated surfacing capabilities enable Gunboat to accelerate time to market dramatically. Find out more about Gunboat here.Find out more about Creo here.Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates.This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive Producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Mat Eric Hart. Sound design and editing by Louise Morris. Music by Rowan Bishop.

Space is becoming dangerously crowded. With Goldman Sachs predicting 70,000 low Earth orbit satellites could launch in just the next five years, the risk of catastrophic collisions is escalating rapidly. Unlike cars or planes, satellites have no drivers on board to react in real-time, making precise orbital tracking absolutely essential. Enter ARCA Dynamics, who provide crucial space-based surveillance of orbiting objects.Discover how ARCA Dynamics uses satellites equipped with advanced cameras to observe other satellites and debris from space, providing crucial "state vectors". These state vectors are mathematical snapshots that pinpoint exactly where objects are and how fast they're moving in space. Unlike ground-based observations that can only track satellites when they pass directly overhead, ARCA's space-based approach offers continuous monitoring with multiple observation opportunities. This helps operators prevent collisions, reduce unnecessary fuel-burning maneuvers, and keep vital services online.We traveled to ARCA Dynamics' headquarters in Rome, Italy, where co-founder Marco Moriani and his team showed us how they are revolutionizing how we monitor space. They also told us about their groundbreaking plans to integrate AI directly into satellites in the future, eliminating transmission delays and dramatically increasing detection capabilities.  Find out more about ARCA Dynamics here.Find out more about Creo here.Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates.This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive Producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Danny Mitzman. Sound design and editing by Louise Morris. Music by Rowan Bishop.

Picture a farm where robots work through the night, eliminating disease without a single drop of chemicals. It sounds like science fiction, but it's already happening on strawberry farms across Britain and vineyards throughout California, thanks to a remarkable robot called Thorvald. Thorvald is an autonomous robot that uses UVC light as a preventative treatment for crop diseases.Thorvald's unique horseshoe design allows it to glide autonomously through polytunnels and vineyards at night, emitting precisely calibrated UVC light that damages mildew spores while leaving crops unharmed. The modular platform not only eliminates chemical use but also collects valuable crop data through onboard cameras and machine learning, giving farmers unprecedented insights for harvest planning and yield optimization. Saga Robotics treated roughly 20% of the British strawberry harvest this year, and is expanding to 30% next season. We traveled to Lincoln, the UK headquarters of Saga Robotics, to meet Chief Product Officer Damian Flynn and his engineering team. Discover how cutting-edge robotics and digital technology are reshaping the future of sustainable agriculture.Find out more about Saga Robotics here.Find out more about Onshape here.Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates.This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive Producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Helen Lennard. Sound design and editing by Louise Morris. Music by Rowan Bishop.

What if the thrill of Formula One racing could inspire tomorrow's engineers? That's exactly what's happening with Scalextric4Schools, a nationwide initiative that's transforming how students engage with STEM subjects across the UK.The iconic slot car racing brand Scalextric is challenging secondary school students to design, build, and race their own cars. From aerodynamics to weight distribution analysis, students learn real-world engineering principles and experience the same technical challenges faced by professional Formula One teams. The program includes over 30 UK schools, with growing international interest from the US and Australia. Students use the same tools and techniques used by major engineering companies, including professional CAD software, 3D printing and laser cutting. Our host Paul Haimes travelled to Hornby Hobbies in Margate, UK, to speak with Simon Owen (Head of Brand at Scalextric), Simon Hooker (Project Lead for Scalextric4Schools), Anthony (a dedicated teacher from Bishop's Blue Coat School), and Izzy, a student whose engineering journey was sparked by the competition. He discovered how the program is bridging the engineering skills gap, inspiring students who might never have considered STEM careers, and connecting classroom learning with real industry practices. Find out more about Scalextric4Schools here.Find out more about Creo here.Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates.This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Hannah Dean. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.

What if your motorcycle wasn’t just electric, but designed to evolve with you? That’s the question Ryvid, a California-based electric vehicle startup, is answering with their bold new approach to urban mobility. Their modular, lightweight motorcycles are built not only for performance and style, but for sustainability across the full product lifecycle. The electric battery at the heart of the vehicle is swappable and can be easily detached to use as an off-grid power source.  We traveled to Ryvid’s headquarters in Fountain Valley, California, to meet CEO and co-founder Dong Tran. Dong shares how Ryvid is reimagining the entire lifecycle of electric transport. We also learn how their bikes are connecting with a passionate community of tech-savvy commuters and lifestyle riders, including celebrity fans like Lana Del Rey and Chris Hemsworth, and PTC’s own VP of Sustainability Dave Duncan. Find out more about Ryvid here.Find out more about Creo here.Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC. Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates.This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Susan Valot. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.

Mazak Europe is part of the Yamazaki Mazak Corporation, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of CNC machine tools and laser cutting machines. These machines use ultra-precise multi-axis tools to shape the components used in everything from medical devices to Formula One cars. But Mazak’s focus is not just on performance, it is on sustainability, with a bold goal to halve its carbon footprint by 2030.We visit Mazak’s European headquarters in Worcester, UK to meet Engineering Manager Chris Johnson. He shares how the company is transforming its operations through it’s "Go Green" strategy. From solar power and electric vehicles to energy-efficient machines and smart factory dashboards, Mazak is reducing not only their own carbon emissions, but the carbon emissions of their customers too. Find out more about Mazak UK here.Find out more about Windchill here.Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC. Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates.This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Helen Lennard. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.

Ronna Medical is an advanced technology company revolutionizing neurosurgery with advanced robotic systems. These robots assist in making surgeries such as biopsies more accurate, safe and efficient. The RONNA (short for Robotic Neuro-Navigation) robotic arm is controlled remotely by the surgeon and is able to make the surgeries more cost-effective and lead to better success rates and shorter recovery times for the patients. We travel to Ronna Medical’s headquarters in Zagrab, Croatia to meet co-founder Dr Bojan Sekoranja, a mechanical engineer with a PhD in robotics. He tells us more about the Ronna system and how it could be used in the future on a wide range of different surgeries, not just neurosurgeries, and may one day not even need a surgeon present. Find out more about Ronna Medical here. Find out more about Windchill here.Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC. Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates.This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Will Aspinall. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.