New breakthrough consists of using low-pressure aluminium casting to produce ultra-slim parts
TECNALIA is working hand-in-hand with Aurrenak, Foseco and Loramendi to develop ultra-slim, fine-core cast aluminium pieces, in an innovative technology used to lightweight vehicles.
Current lightweighting solutions for vehicle parts involve costly processes and advanced materials, which are not replicable on an industrial scale and do not produce large, hollow-core parts. Accordingly, these technologies are used only to manufacture parts for high-end vehicles.
The Ultraslim project, which consists of developing a low-pressure, fine-core casting process, has arisen to respond to the need for less costly new technologies to replace these processes. By selecting the alloys and mould designs, the defect levels of parts can be reduced, and filling is made easier, improving the quality and productivity of parts.
Advantages of the Ultraslim Initiative
The advantages of Ultraslim include greater mechanical and thermal resistance over cores obtained using organic bonding agents. Additionally, optimised warm air purging, a dosing system developed to avoid variations in the mixture of liquid bond and dust, along with recycling of materials, all contribute to the circular economy.
Ultraslim also delivers overall savings as manufacturing times are slashed by new smart systems. The semi-industrial validation tests are set to take place over the coming months.
