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Source: The following was excerpted from a case study posted on All3DP and emphasizes the brake-cooling parts 3D print produced for Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato’s racecar. The entire post can be viewed by clicking HERE.
HILLIAD, Ohio – Takuma Sato, driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, won the 2020 Indianapolis 500, the premier event of the IndyCar Series. 3D printed parts contributed to the win.
To compete for wins in IndyCar requires constant performance- and safety-based modifications to the race car. 3D Printing is used to quickly develop, fit, test, and even race multiple parts for the car. It has enabled Rahal Letterman Lanigan to speed up and refine the entire process, for design, testing and production of race-ready performance parts and pit-use parts.
“3D printing is the norm these days in terms of creating prototype Indy car components out of carbon and other materials,” says Bobby Rahal, team co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
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With XYZprinting technology, RLL can quickly produce prototype Indy car components to confirm clearances and function ,which reduces precious design time spent checking complicated packaging limits and ultimately reduces the team’s concept-to-track time.
Innovations in Brake-Cooling Components
Racing in IndyCar is highly demanding on the brake system. The vehicles on track can regularly see temperatures reaching 900°C or higher, which must be cooled down before the next application for maximum effectiveness. The brake system has ducts that force air into the rotors and calipers when running so the heat can be dissipated.
Problems arise when the car stops, and the brakes soak up heat. The temperatures can be high enough to ignite surrounding equipment so keeping the brakes cool while in the pit is imperative to maintaining the integrity of the brake system.
Brake fans must be easy to install and remove to keep in line with the very tight schedules demanded of the team during the sessions.
To view the entire case study, click HERE.
