Development of novel manufacturing route for automotive suspension parts

汽车悬架零部件新型制造路线的开发

• 批准号: 500603-2016
• 负责人: Bocher, Philippe
• 金额: $ 5.12万
• 依托单位: École de technologie supérieure
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=645678
• 关键词: Development; novel; manufacturing; route; automotive

In order to reduce the weight and the consumption of car, more vehicle parts have been manufactured with lightweight alloys. Al castings have been used in the powertrain and, more recently, as sheet & extrusions in the car body. Applications in the suspension components is also a new trend as the benefit of Al in these components is the reduction in weight together with improved road handling and increased noise/vibration dampening. The industrial partner of the present projet, Raufoss, is a supplier of automotive suspension components in Al-Si-Mg alloy manufactured using a casting / extrusion and forging route. The extrusion and heat-treatment portion of the manufacturing route allow fine grained material to be produced, but it is a time/energy consuming process which is costly. In order to improve the cost effectiveness and maintain Raufoss strategic position as a manufacturing leader, alternate routes have to be developed. In the present project, the possibility of using a direct-chill (DC) cast rod to replace the conventional casting extrusion / heat treatment steps will be investigated. As different microstructures, grain structures, and heterogeneities will be generated with this castings technology, every step of the production route will have to be investigated and optimized to enhance the final properties of the produced parts in term of fatigue properties. The knowledge generated in this project will give the industrial partner a competitive edge in possessing a cost effective forging process for suspension components, the technology will enable them to develop new business, and to innovate to secure higher market share. HQP trained in this project will have key expertise in the lightweight transport applications (materials production, extrusion, fabrication, forming and applications) and will help keep these key industries in Canada.

为了降低汽车的重量和消耗，越来越多的汽车零部件采用轻质合金。铝铸件已被用于动力系统，最近，作为薄板和挤压件在车身。在悬架组件中的应用也是一个新的趋势，因为铝在这些组件中的好处是减轻重量，改善道路处理和增加噪音/振动阻尼。本项目的工业合作伙伴Raufoss是一家采用铸造/挤压和锻造工艺生产铝硅镁合金汽车悬架部件的供应商。制造路线的挤出和热处理部分允许生产细颗粒材料，但这是一个耗时/耗能的过程，成本高。为了提高成本效益并保持劳福斯作为制造业领导者的战略地位，必须开发替代路线。在本项目中，使用直接激冷（DC）铸造棒，以取代传统的铸造挤压/热处理步骤的可能性将进行调查。由于这种铸造技术会产生不同的微观结构、晶粒结构和异质性，因此必须对生产路线的每一步进行研究和优化，以提高所生产零件在疲劳性能方面的最终性能。该项目产生的知识将使工业合作伙伴在拥有悬架部件的成本效益锻造工艺方面具有竞争优势，该技术将使他们能够开发新业务，并进行创新以确保更高的市场份额。在此项目中培训的HQP将拥有轻型运输应用（材料生产，挤出，制造，成型和应用）的关键专业知识，并将有助于将这些关键行业留在加拿大。