The principle of choice of materials in the automotive design and manufacturing has become extremely complex both because new materials are substituted and combined with the traditional ones and because the choice has to satisfy the contrasting requirements of the designer, of the stylist, of the manufacturing engineer, of the production planner, of the component supplier, etc. Some examples of industrial applications of the SeSoF process (Semi-Solid Forming) have been presented for the manufacturing of automotive components with the purpose of acknowledging how the thixoforming technology has now left the research and development laboratories and reached a greater consideration by both the mechanical components designers and the production personnel. Certainly not everything has been resolved and there is still a lot to do to completely exploit the possibilities offered. Research activity continues to further improve the processing, and develop new alloys specifically for this the new technology and to further widen the application field. Under the advantages recognised by the SeSoF process in the production of components In aluminium alloy, Stampal proposes that SeSoF is an ideal partner of the automotive manufacturers and of the major suppliers of components. The main purpose is to solve some of their problems and particularly to decrease vehicle weight by the end of the century. This approach will also help in the reduction of atmospheric pollution. However the advantages offered by semi-liquid technology metal processing have not been fully realised. Stampal believes that the total exploitation of this technology can grow only from a closer co-operation amongst the field of applied scientific research, as industrial designer and production personnel. To accomplish all this it is necessary to develop a focused activity of co-design and of concurrent engineering.
Thixoforming and weight reduction - industrial application of SeSoF
Thixoforming und Gewichtsreduktion - industrielle Anwendungen des SeSoF-Verfahrens
1998
9 Seiten, 8 Bilder, 2 Tabellen
Conference paper
English
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