Ford wants to prevent alloy wheel stealing with 3D-printed locking nut
Ford has devised a method to prevent the stealing of alloy wheels. The car manufacturer wants to provide vehicles with wheels with unique locking nuts and a corresponding key, tailored to the owners. The parts are 3d printed.
Ford wants to use the voice of car owners to make the nuts and wrench unique. This has to be done by recording a second of voice and converting it into a physical pattern. Because every person has a unique voice, that should yield an inimitable key.
The pattern is then 3d printed with metal. Ford says it is working together with the company EOS, which specializes in such printing techniques. The nut and wrench are designed and printed as one part and then separated from each other.
Furthermore, Ford says it uses techniques to prevent the cloning of the key. This is done by adding unevenly spaced ribs in the notches of the nut, which become deeper and wider. That way, no wax impression can be made, as the wax would break if pulled out of the nut.
Ford also proposes the possibility of making wheel nuts with a design such as, for example, a Mustang logo, the driver’s initials or the outline of a track. The car manufacturer has not yet announced concrete plans for the release of the 3d-printed wheel nuts.