Additive manufacturing (AM) is joining materials to make objects from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, instead of subtractive manufacturing. It gives engineers far more freedom to produce components with complex shapes, more than what is possible using subtractive methods. Its attributes give it the potential to impact more significantly on technology, manufacturing, and retail for the industry than almost any other technology to date.
Motorsport is a constant improvement exercise within rapid timeframes, and this advanced disruptive manufacturing technology is crucial in implementing new improvements. ‘With AM, freedoms are simply realized in hitherto un-manufacturable geometries,’ highlights Michael Fuller, CEO and Founder of Conflux, a company specializing in AM heat exchangers. ‘The sweet spot for AM lies where designers want to create a component with only the required structures for its application, optimizing its size and weight. For example, designing hollow tubes and I-beams inside constructions can help create a stiff internal structure with minimal weight.’ The application’s load case determines where material needs to be present. Often the centre of a structure doesn’t require any material, as the outside of the part carries the stress. ‘The part’s application dictates the technology, material, and any post-processing requirements to ensure it is fit for purpose,’ says Samuel Persaud, Head of...