Cold Spray 3D printer manufacturerSPEE3Dhas showcased an impressive new batch of metal racing car parts produced via its technology at the2022 Australian Grand Prix。
Presented at a stall near the Albert Park circuit on Formula 1 race weekend, the prints on-show suitably demonstrated the outright speed and precision at which the firm’sWarpSPEE3D系统现在能够运行。
Developed for clientGarry Rogers Motorsport, a team competing in theS5000andTCRrace series, these components varied from hefty 6.8-kilo structural elements to wheel inners, illustrating the end-use production potential of SPEE3D’s rapid 3D printer, on a weekend in which Australia-based motorsport was in the headlines.
“It was exciting to showcase our technology at this fantastic event here in Melbourne,” Byron Kennedy, CEO of SPEE3D said of the event. “SPEE3D’s technology is the world’s fastest way to make metal parts, and what better place to show this off than at the Grand Prix, which is all about speed and innovation!”
Cold Spray 3D printing technology
Spee3D的主要业务商品是由工程创新者拜伦·肯尼迪（Byron Kennedy）和史蒂文·卡米勒（Steven Camilleri）共同创立的，是营销3D打印机，可运营其专有的冷喷雾技术。与普通的金属系统依靠高功率激光和昂贵的气体不同，该公司的方法依赖于利用动能。
实际上，在Spee3D的warpspee3d 3D打印机中，这意味着通过压缩气体将金属粉末喷射到构建区域，从而使材料的速度使材料变形和融合在撞击时与底物融合。除了比传统的生产过程更便宜，更灵活，该公司还认为该单元的印刷速度最高100克/分钟是世界上最快的。
Given these advantages, it should be of no surprise that the technology continues to find wide-ranging applications, particularly within the defense sector. The Australian Army, for example, has trialed SPEE3D machines since at least 2014, most recently using it to3D print armored personnel carrier sparesin the nation’s remote Northern Territories.
过去，该公司还泄露了mass-3D print rocket engineswith its systems, as part of the SPAC3D project. Since it was announced in July 2021, the program has seen SPEE3D receive AUD $1.25 million via the Australian Government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI), to aid its development of Cold Spray produced propulsion systems designed to support the country’s space sector.
Showcasing at a temple of speed
在SPEE3D的展示,球迷访问澳大利亚Grand Prix for the on-track action were also treated to a display of some pretty impressive parts, as well as seeing dozens of metal objects being produced in real-time. This live exhibition, which took place at the circuit’sVersor Tech Hub, saw components up to 1000 x 700 mm in diameter being 3D printed, before being installed onto an S5000 race car.
在活动中展出的零件中，其中一个出色的碎片是一个大型铝制后壳，尽管体重为6.8公斤，但仅需五个小时才能以540美元的价格打印。在其他地方，在较重的建筑物中，Spee3D还展示了一个9公斤轮中心，其中中央圆盘与边缘分开生产并在较低的铸造或加工替代方案中连接在一起。
SPEE3D wasn’t shy about exhibiting parts with demanding use cases either, putting both a metal 3D printed intake manifold and S5000 support arm on-display, the latter of which is designed to be fitted next to the open-wheeler’s engine. Given that the team’s cars are powered by big 560bhp V8s that can hit speeds of up to 300 kph, the end-use components no doubt need very high thermal tolerances.
“Thanks to Byron Kennedy and SPEE3D for the Grand Prix tickets today, I had the best time,” said Alex Kingsbury, Additive Manufacturing Industry Fellow & Engagement Lead atRMIT大学, who attended the event in-person. “And really cool to see the new demo parts on display, including the S5000 support arms (2 hour print time – beat that!!). Other highlights included bumping into theRMIT Formula SAE teamand seeing some of the AMP’s 3D printed parts.”
Additive manufacturing in auto-racing
In addition to being deployed in the commercial automotive world, 3D printing is now increasingly being applied in various different series of motorsport as well. In the MotoGP category, theDucati Lenovo团队最近透露机器人has begun3D打印整流罩和隔热屏蔽elements of its 2022 motorbike.
Larsen Motorsports另一方面，已经整合了NSCRYPT 3D打印发动机零件into its ‘Gen 6’ jet-powered dragster. Specifically, utilizing an ‘nRugged’ system, the firm has been able to replace the outdated gaskets on the fuel pumps of its car with more durable fabricated seals, which have since proven leak-free over a demanding six-month trial.
在其他地方，即使在一级方程式赛车1的挑战世界中，该技术也被网格上下采用，尽管有变化的范围。尽管McLaren Racingis known to have a与Stratasys的长期合作关系， 这阿尔法·罗密欧·奥伦（Alfa Romeo Orlen）团队已经为本赛季的车安装了多辆end-use ‘critical’ F1 parts.
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Featured image shows a SPEE3D-printed aluminum support arm fitted to an S5000 race car. Photo via SPEE3D.
