In 1998 the study began for the
Minardi F1 team, Marc Gené driving the test car, and the first uprights were produced
in 1999.
Titanium Rapid Casting was therefore introduced in F1 by CRP Technology as a world première, in 1999.
The first Titanium parts made for Minardi were the Cast Titanium front and rear uprights. The upright is the connecting part of the wheel where the hub transmits the engine rotational power to the tires. The suspension brackets, the front steering bracket, the rear convergence tie-rod and the brake callipers are connected to the uprights.
The required properties of the uprights therefore are: lightness (it is a non-suspended mass, therefore need no resonant bumps given by heavy wheels), stiffness (any deformation compromises the kinetics of the suspension and braking) and reliability, (as one of the safety components).
The uprights were usually manufactured through a long and complicated process of forming and cutting steel sheets, which included welding, heat treatment, CNC machining and finally painting to protect against corrosion. This process can’t optimize the mechanical performances of the piece, making the uprights heavier than they should have been. Moreover, being a welded piece, it presents a structural anisotropy that shortens its lifespan, and therefore its reliability and life expectancy.
In the beginning the classic cast alloys were tested, like aluminium ones, but almost immediately CRP decided to make the big jump and study the Titanium Rapid Casting.
Complex geometries were achievable only with this process, saving weight, increasing stiffness and reliability, besides giving cheaper costs than the other solutions.
In
2000 and 2001, Cast Titanium front and rear uprights were produced for other F1 Teams whose names have to be kept confidential.
In
2002 and 2003, The Cast Titanium front upright was studied and produced also for the
Jaguar Racing F1 Team, driven by
Eddie Irvine. Later on more or less all F1 teams used Titanium cast uprights, and nowadays it remains one of the best solutions and the safest back-up in case of need.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask in this thread.
More details and photos are available here.
http://www.crptechnology.com/sito/co...99/39/lang,it/
Titanium Rapid Casting. 1999. The first time in Formula 1 
Linear Mode
