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Another Formula 1 team uses additive technologies in the production of racing car components: Ferrari is developing a new car with an engine equipped with 3D-printed pistons.
The need for 3D-printed parts arose as a result of the increase in pressure due to the transition to the pre-ignition-flare ignition of the fuel mixture. Ferrari engineers considered that the physicomechanical properties of aluminum alloys are insufficient to operate at elevated temperatures and pressures reaching 400 atmospheres.
As a result, the designers decided to try out the pistons made of steel alloys that are more resistant to deformation, which returned the developers to the old problem - increasing the mass. For many years, race car designers have moved away from steel components towards aluminum alloys precisely because of their weight. A compromise was found with the help of 3D printing: the pistons of the new engine have a honeycomb structure, which at the same time provides the necessary strength and acceptable mass. It was necessary to resort to additive production because it was not possible to cast or grind such structures.
The new engine is undergoing bench tests. Nobody knows yet exactly how the new car will look (in the illustrations one of the art concepts is approx. 3Dtoday), and the first online demonstration of the still-secret car under the article “668” is scheduled for February 24th. It is expected that the use of pre-ignition torch ignition will achieve significant fuel savings. Recall that about a week ago, another “stable” of Formula 1 announced its intention to use 3D printing technology: the British team McLaren entered into a strategic agreement with the famous manufacturer of 3D printers, the American company Stratasys.
