New RP material for brake ducts?

[Scarbs]

What material is this brake duct scoop? It does not appear to be carbon, is it perhaps a Rapid Prototyped stereo-lithographic material?

I recall Jaguar (as RedBull were) used to use an alumised coating on carbon for brake ducts some years back.

RBR_Duct on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[RPManager]

hello Scarbs,

yes, this is Windform XT, RP material from CRP Technology,
there is more than 1 F1 Team that this year uses this type of our RP and patented material.

web site: Windform. Selective Laser Sintering and Rapid Prototyping Material

[admin]

Originally Posted by Scarbs

What material is this brake duct scoop? It does not appear to be carbon, is it perhaps a Rapid Prototyped stereo-lithographic material?

I recall Jaguar (as RedBull were) used to use an alumised coating on carbon for brake ducts some years back.

Yes as RPManager said, this is a CRP Technology solution.
If you have any generic or maybe technical question about this material, we can try to discuss about it here.

[livia]

Hi Scarbs,

thanks for sharing this pic with us!
Is it copyright free? Where did you get it?

Ciao! Livia

[Scarbs]

I thinks its great that RP materials are now at the stage where they can replace the us eof other common materials around the car.

As the Brake inlet is not a heavily loaded part, I assume Windform is not structurally or thermally as good as Carbon fibre? But would this be offset by more flexibility over its geometry and wall thickness compared to a Carbon fibre moulding.
This would obviously be a quicker way to produce one off parts, but would it be better for a run of production parts? i.e. is it quicker way to manufacture a part such as this (time on the RP machine versus hand lay up and Autoclave time), How long would a part like that take to make on the RP machine? Would it be cheaper in terms of material?


Livia: This pic was sent to me by another journalist, I can ask if he is prepared to let it be used.
What are the benefits of using RPM over Carbon?

[livia]

Hi Scarbs! here it is...hope to be useful, but if you need any further info...just ask me!

As the Brake inlet is not a heavily loaded part, I assume Windform is not structurally or thermally as good as Carbon fibre?

Windform is a PA based and Carbon Fibres filled material. The performance is higher than every other RP material, but of course is lower than Carbon laminated parts. Depending on loads and temperatures, it can suit also structural applications, as any other plastic or metal alloys…it’s just a matter of project and correct dimensions.

This would obviously be a quicker way to produce one off parts, but would it be better for a run of production parts? i.e. is it quicker way to manufacture a part such as this (time on the RP machine versus hand lay up and Autoclave time), How long would a part like that take to make on the RP machine? Would it be cheaper in terms of material?

RP is of course quicker, you can have a piece in your hand within hours, or few days, instead of weeks. Since you don’t need a mould, the price for few parts is lower than the price for few Carbon laminated parts. On the other side, if you need a production, the price of the mould (for Carbon lamination) is shared upon several parts and at the end the total price for many parts can be lower. The break even point depends on many different parameters: delivery time, complexity of the shape, performance, quick change/improvement of the design…
Of course with RP you have complete freedom of shape and design (you can make even undercuts for example) whilst with a mould or CNC machined parts you have several design limits.
It’s a compromise, you have to understand each time what you need and so which technology is the best. Sometimes casting, sometimes CNC, sometimes mould…and sometimes RP too.

I can ask if he is prepared to let it be used. What are the benefits of using RPM over Carbon?

Yes please, ask him because it is a quite interesting pic.
What do you mean with RPM?

[Lightning McQueen]

Originally Posted by livia

What do you mean with RPM?

Maybe Rapid Prototyping Material ?


P.S. : sorry for the "intrusion",
away from me to be pedantic . . .


LMcQ

[livia]

uao...i have to be really tired...i guess you are right, it has to be Rapid Prototyping Material...I never called it like that.

I guess the reply to the previous questions was enough to understand the advantage of RPM over Carbon...if not please tell me what is not clear yet please.

Scarbs: any news about pic rights?