With the growing emphasis on customization, rapid iteration and lightweight in the automotive sector, 3D printing has emerged as a key enabler for flexible production. By cooperating with MINGDA, PATAK Motors has overcome the limitations of conventional outsourcing approaches while developing an high-efficiency, flexible, and quality-assured prototyping system.

About PATAK MOTORS

Founded in 2020, PATAK MOTORS is a Slovakia-based team of automotive enthusiasts and designers with over 20 years of combined industry experience. Inspired by classic gentleman-style cars, they set out to create a compact, eco-friendly micro car tailored for urban life—blending timeless design with modern efficiency. 

The Challenge Before 3D Printing

Before adopting 3D printing technology, PATAK MOTORS predominantly used conventional manufacturing techniques such as composite material fabrication, aluminum milling, and steel machining for part production. Although these methods worked, they were not without limitations.

Difficulties included:

●  Prototyping and testing components required more time.

●  Dependence on machine availability and workshop capacity.

●  Per-unit manufacturing cost were prohibitively expensive.

●  High material waste, especially for parts that didn’t require metal strength.

●  Limited agility when iterative changes were needed.

Why MINGDA 3D?

Faced with these new challenges, PATAK MOTORS sought an innovative manufacturing solution to enhance speed, adaptability, and resource optimization. After evaluating multiple technologies, the company partnered with MINGDA to use industrial-grade 3D printing technology.

Key reasons for adopting MINGDA 3D printing:

●  Expedited Design-to-Production Cycle, Enables rapid iteration easily

●  Enhanced Supply Chain Autonomy - Minimizes relies on third-party vendors and machining center availability.

●  Sustainable Manufacturing Efficiency - compare with subtractive manufacturing, save more material.

●  Advanced Geometrical Flexibility - Facilitates flexible prototyping of sophisticated structural configurations

The team chose MINGDA 3D specifically because their designer already used an older 600 Pro, and the print quality, reliability, and seamless work-flow impressed the team.

Printer of Choice:

Upon learning that MINGDA 3D had developed a new printer MD-1000D surpassing the 600-PRO's speed while equipped with the latest Klipper firmware, they immediately placed an additional order for three more printers with our company.

Additionally, the MD-1000D’s large-format printing capability comfortably accommodated all of the team's compact part designs with room to spare.

Materials and Applications：

PM primarily utilizes MINGDA's PET-CF filament for 3D printing automotive component prototypes, including wheel hub prototypes, tire cover prototypes, and bumper prototypes etc. Previously, PATAK MOTORS' prototyping workflow required multiple weeks to deliver a single component prototype. The implementation of industrial 3D printing solutions has dramatically compressed this timeline to just 2-3 days for complete part production. When adjustments are needed, engineers can directly modify the digital model. After slicing through the MINGDA 3D slicing software, the prototype component can be remade efficiently.

Results and Benefits:

Since adopting MINGDA 3D solutions, PATAK MOTORS has experienced several key benefits:

●  Maintains precision output across intricate component designs.

●  Tightly coupled hardware-software ecosystem ensures smooth job processing.

●  User-friendly operating system for new members without deep 3D printing experience to quickly get up to speed.

●  Achieves 40-60% material savings compared to subtractive methods.

●  Eliminates external workshop dependencies for prototype production.

Conclusion

We are very satisfied with our MINGDA 3D printers. Our printed parts are superior, precise, and durable. Everything clicks together perfectly, and the printing quality is always on point.

                                                                                         -Michal Vršek, Designer of PATAK MOTORS

We sincerely appreciate PATAK MOTORS for sharing their implementation experience with us. It's truly inspiring to see skilled and talented engineers leveraging 3D printing technology to redefine urban mobility innovation.