OTR Introduces Prototyping Service for Tires, Tracks

OTR Engineered Solutions has introduced OTR3DLab, a first-of-its-kind prototyping service intended to dramatically reduce product development timelines.

For decades, bringing a new off-the-road tire, wheel or track concept to life has typically meant extensive lead times, significant investment in tooling, and limited opportunity to conduct full-scale visual evaluations prior to making production commitments. OTR3DLab improves the process, using advanced, large-format 3D printing technology to produce full-scale physical prototypes of new product concepts in just a few weeks, rather than months. Customers can now assess on-vehicle aesthetics, fitment, proportions, clearance and overall design direction before committing to costly production tooling.

OTR’s service supports more than 1,000 printable materials, including flexible, rubber-like elastomers that closely mimic the look and feel of a production tire. The equipment produces prototypes up to 1 cubic meter (35 cubic feet) to deliver a level of realism previously difficult to achieve. Printed, full-scale tire prototypes can be mounted directly onto standard steel or aluminum wheels using conventional tire-mounting equipment. www.otrwheel.com/otr3dlab-prototyping-service/