Archive for February, 2019
Ford Pursuing Graphene for Lightweighting
Graphene is being called a “miracle material.” It’s 200 times stronger than steel, highly conductive, an excellent sound barrier while at the same time flexible and thin. Ford is using graphene to improve underhood components that weigh less, have improved heat conductivity and diminish noise. Working with Tier I Eagle Industries and graphene supplier XG […]
CMS North America Acquires DMS
SCM Group, a leading Italian multinational company in machinery and industrial equipment, and parent company of Caledonia, Mich.-based CMS North America (CMSNA), took over Diversified Machine Systems (DMS), located in Colorado Springs, Colo. DMS designs, manufactures, distributes and services innovative CNC machinery, particularly for many plastics and composite materials applications. This acquisition will strengthen SCM […]
Parameters Introduces CogniCAD 2.0
ParaMatters, a generative design provider of autonomous topology optimization, parts consolidation and lightweighting software solutions, has released its second generation CogniCAD 2.0 platform. CogniCAD 2.0 is ParaMatters’ new holistic and agnostic generative design solution, building on its successful cloud-based, cognitive design and high-performance computational platform. CogniCAD 2.0 can automatically generate ready-to-3-D print, high-performance, lightweighted structures […]
NREL Looks to the Past for Future Lightweighting
In an example of what’s old is new, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers traveled back in time to find a new way to produce acrylonitrile (ACN) from renewable sources. This would mean that instead of using petrochemicals to turn ACN into carbon fiber, biomass could be used—as was done at the turn of the […]
ToPCat: New Swedish EV
Swedish car company Uniti is partnering with KW Special Projects (KWSP) on its new low-cost electric vehicle (EV), Uniti One. KWSP’s unique carbon-composite vehicle platform will be part of the new vehicle, named ToPCat. The platform offers lightweighting, thermal management and structural advantages. The carbon-composite chassis vehicle platform will cost a fraction of other methods. […]
Novelis Aluminum in Jaguar EV
Novelis, a leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, will supply its premium Novelis Advanz™ aluminum to the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE. This new addition to the Jaguar PACE family, and the carmaker’s first all-electric vehicle, features a strong and stiff lightweight aluminum construction to reduce weight and increase battery range up to 290 miles. The electric […]
Composites/AM – Circle of Life
Holistic optical metrology reduces costs, improves quality. Optical methods optimize composites and additive manufacturing (AM) for next-gen vehicles, from materials through life extension. Industry uses optical measurement systems throughout the design and manufacturing of next-generation material, structures and products. Optical metrology, Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and photogrammetry are critical measurement methods because of their ability […]
Efficient Stamping Simulations
Focusing on production planning, process engineering, tool design, manufacturing. Introduction Lightweighting and safety needs have rapidly expanded applications of press hardening and newer-generation cold-forming steels, as well as warm and hot formable aluminum grades to Body-in-White components in recent years. Product design, manufacturing engineering and production technologies have delivered tremendous innovations toward efficient production of […]
Fuel Economy and Lightweighting Insights
What the switch to crossovers means—and much more. Two events last year dove deep into the realm of lightweighting—what’s happening now and what to expect down the road. In December, Ward’s Auto hosted a seminar on fuel economy and lightweighting. The overarching message stems from changing consumer behavior, away from small vehicles and instead, purchasing […]
Lightweight Vehicle Body Structures from MSC Smart Steel
One of the driving principals of automotive engineering today is improving fuel efficiency, which thereby reduces carbon emissions. Many strategies have been implemented concurrently by the automotive OEMs, such as improved aerodynamics and adopting alternative powertrains, but the most widely implemented practice involves reducing vehicle mass. More than ever, innovative designs and lightweight materials are […]
