TheAlfa Romeo Racing ORLENFormula 1 team has more than doubled the number of 3D printed parts fitted to its car as it attempts to make performance gains ahead of the imminent 2021 World Championship.
Using添加剂行业MetalFab1 3D打印机，该团队能够迅速创建轻量级组件，其成本比通过常规加工生产的成本低约90％。鉴于今年标志着这项运动的第一笔成本限额，每一分钱都可以算在内，而阿尔法的新发现的效率提高甚至可能对闯入本赛季的中场战斗至关重要。
根据阿尔法·罗密欧技术总监Jan Monchaux的说法，内部制造业已经对F1团队非常重要，这是从外部提供商订购零件的更具成本效益的替代品。Monchaux说：“通过将MetalFab1系统内部设置，而不是外部外包，它可以帮助我们实现成本上限的重要元素。”
阿尔法·罗密欧（Alfa Romeo）
无论是热掀背车还是200英里 /小时的怪物，阿尔法·罗密欧（Alfa Romeo）都有将3D印刷零件整合到其生产过程中的悠久历史。在公路型方面，阿尔法的母公司Fiat Chrysler Automobiles在过去的六年中，已经在各种项目中采用了AM，最近与Fraunhofer Iapt制造asports car suspension part。
当谈到F1时，阿尔法·罗密欧（Alfa Romeo）是索伯集团, an established race outfit that’s been on the grid since 1993. However, while Sauber has pedigree, it hasn’t finished above eighth in the standings during the sport’s turbo-hybrid era (2013-2020), and the team has partnered with Alfa since 2019, in an attempt to change its fortunes.
Last season’s car, ‘the C39,’ featured a total of 143 3D printed parts, but the team has really stepped up its AM adoption with this year’s ‘C41,’ which now includes an initial 304. Of these components, the majority are made of AlSi10Mg (40%) and Scalmalloy (36%), while Ti64Gd23 (22%) and stainless steel (2%) also feature within the car’s different elements.
尽管本赛季挑战者安装的3D打印零件比去年（14860G vs 13140g）重略重，但该团队声称使用MetalFab1的成本降低了90％左右。结果，与团队相比梅赛德斯AMG石油公司, who need to cut their spending from over $400 million to meet F1’s cost cap, Alfa will be able to make more subtle adjustments, like switching to 3D printing in certain areas.
远离赛道，索伯还与增材行业合作，建立了金属3D打印能力中心。这些公司的最初计划是在三年内安装两台机器，但是索伯已经在设计工作流程中运行了四个MetalFab系统，该系统现在包含13台聚合物3D打印机，每年生产22,000个零件。雷电竞app下载
Consequently, it remains to be seen whether Alfa Romeo can help return the Sauber moniker to its former glory, but the adoption of AM across the partnership appears to be thriving nonetheless. Still, either way, the team won’t have to wait long to find out how this year’s challenger stacks up against the opposition, as the season starts March 28th 2021.
利用MetalFab1
虽然MetalFab1仍然可以在一级方程式的尖端世界中使用，但该系统现在已有六年的历史，最初是在Formnext 2015。该机器本身是模块化的，这意味着采用者能够灵活配置在两个和11个模块之间的设置，并自定义3D打印机以满足其特定于应用程序的需求。
Metalfab首先被用作ScalMalloy生产商APWORKS的Beta测试，最初被证明是高度广泛的，在短短三个月内卖光。从那以后，机器一直在与公司一起找到新的应用程序最新的Metalfab-600 3D打印机，与汽车客户一样大众将MetalFab1储藏在其内部高级3D打印中心。
增材行业的系统也一直是adopted by unnamed aerospace clients据报道，它用它来制造大量金属零件，仅在一个月内通过700公斤的粉末。在此类苛刻的区域内，MetalFab1的持续吸收反映了公司长期服务打印机的持续可扩展性，从而创造了耐用，轻巧和高性能的零件。
3D printing’s F1 credentials
在像一级方程式赛车一样具有竞争力的世界中，分秒可能意味着成功与失败之间的差异，许多团队最近转向3D打印，试图获得轨道优势。
UK-based F1 team迈凯轮赛车has been using雷电竞充值增材制造轨道自2017年以来。作为与3D打印机OEM的四年协议的一部分Stratasys, McLaren has managed to produce a variety ofprototypes and on-demand spare parts, ranging from brake cooling ducts to rear wing flaps.
最近，威廉姆斯赛车团队已与3D打印机制造商合作nexa3dto produce功能性风洞组件for developing its 2021 challenger. The lightweight parts will be used to help test the aerodynamic properties of the team’s race cars, and drive their competitiveness against the rest of the field.
Elsewhere,APWORKS拥有专有Scalmalloy由F1的理事机构批准, the国际足联。While the metal was originally developed for use within aerospace applications, its stress-resistant properties could also make it an ideal motosport material, and it can now be used legally by teams up and down the F1 paddock.
要了解最新的3D印刷新闻，请不要忘记订阅3D打印行业newsletter或跟随我们推特or liking our Facebook page.
Are you looking for a job in the additive manufacturing industry? Visit3D Printing Jobsfor a selection of roles in the industry.
Featured image shows Alfa Romeo’s 2021 F1 car during pre-season testing in Bahrain. Photo via Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN.
