New volume production casting process for AMC reinforced components.

福特汽车公司（福特）、复合金属技术公司（CMT）和M Wright &Sons公司（MWS）正在合作开展一项英国创新基金资助的项目，开发一种新的制造工艺，用于生产铝铸件，该铸件采用长纤维铝基复合材料（AMC）制成的插入件进行增强，提供局部增强并促进减轻重量。该项目将为AMC增强部件提供一种新的重力压铸工艺，与目前的砂型铸造工艺相比，能够以更高的质量和更低的成本实现更高的产量。MWS将通过一种新的3D纤维预制件设计概念来支持这一发展，该设计概念使用一种新的自适应编织系统制造，该系统将允许预制件的灵活横向增强，并根据组件性能要求进行修改。这些发展将通过制造重新设计的原型动力总成支架来展示，与标准铝部件相比，该支架重量减轻，刚度提高。该项目将解决广泛采用AMC增强铝部件的剩余抑制因素之一，并为广泛的工业领域的客户释放技术潜力。

Ford Motor Company (Ford), Composite Metal Technology (CMT) and M Wright &Sons (MWS) are collaborating on an Innovate UK funded project to develop a new manufacturing process for the production of aluminium castings reinforced with inserts manufactured from long-fibre aluminium matrix composite (AMC) materials, providing localised reinforcement and facilitating weight reduction. The project will deliver a new gravity die casting process for AMC-reinforced components, enabling higher production volumes at improved quality and reduced cost compared to the current sand casting process. MWS will support this development with a novel 3D fibre preform design concept, manufactured using a new adaptive weaving system that will allow flexible transverse reinforcement of preforms, modified according to component performance requirements. These developments will be demonstrated via the manufacture of a redesigned prototype powertrain bracket, with reduced weight and improved stiffness versus the standard aluminium component. The project will address one of the remaining inhibitors to widespread adoption of AMC reinforcement for aluminium components, and unlock the technology potential for customers in a broad range of industrial sectors.