Tecnun is a Formula Racing team from the University of Navarra, Spain. It is responsible for designing and manufacturing student group racing cars for participation in international formula events. Usually, it takes at least three weeks to produce aluminum molds for racing parts using traditional methods. Time, the game is imminent, what secret weapon will the team use? The team started to contact the new technology - 3D printing technology. Due to strict production planning and budget constraints, Tecnun has been testing various other things in the past. Faster, cheaper alternatives to additive manufacturing techniques, with the expectation that manufacturing tools can be produced. However, it has been found that plastics are not strong enough to break during construction.
After continuous trials, the Tecnun team finally found the right choice - using Stratasys' additive manufacturing technology, the team could produce extremely complex 3D printing molds for the key parts of the car within hours. It is important to use The time saved during the production process allows the team to further update its design and develop a final carbon fiber component that is 60% lighter than traditional production methods, thereby increasing the racing performance on the track. Tecnun Motorsport Technology Director Javier Aperribay said that the key to success is the design of the intake manifold, which ensures that enough air reaches the engine cylinders and is a key component in increasing speed. Aperribay explained: 'Because the intake manifold consists of some important components, these components For the distribution of air along the four intake manifolds, it is extremely complicated to manufacture the intake manifold. Our goal is to manufacture intake manifolds in carbon fiber composites, but we are well aware of the manufacturing of such components. Needs molds to build composites and produce final parts. Computer numerical control machining is used to produce aluminum Molds, but this is usually an inflexible and costly process. In addition, any subsequent design modifications to the molds will delay the project and add additional costs. ' By using the Stratasys Fortus 450mc printer with ST-130 materials, Tecnun has successfully produced molds such as intake manifolds.
Compared with aluminum molds, the ST-130 has superior solubility characteristics, making the shape of the intake manifold more complex, so as not to assemble all the individual components. Now the team can complete the intake manifold 3D printing mold in 5 hours. Production. Unlike previous additive polymer materials, the material can be operated at high temperatures of 121°C, and the mold will not break during the test. This helps to achieve the best combustion reaction and enhance the track performance.