3D-printed oil pans improve race car results

Dec. 11, 2019
The UVic Formula Motorsport team uses oil pans that are 3D-printed using the Windform SP composite material from CRP USA.

The UVic Formula Motorsport team has been using oil pans that are 3D-printed using Windform TOP-LINE composite materials from CRP USA (Mooresville, NC), which were engineered to be manufactured using a laser sintering (a type of 3D printing) process. This worked “amazingly” on the 2016 and 2017 race car, as the 3D-printed oil pans allowed the UVic team to significantly lower the engine, therefore decreasing the vehicle's overall center of gravity and improving the performance of the car.

However, during a test day with their 2018 vehicle, the engine overheated, causing the oil temperature to increase beyond the limits of the designed pan. Post-race inspection showed that any thin-walled surfaces deformed quite significantly, meaning that the baffle walls of the pan were significantly warped and one of the sections of the mating flange had been pulled into the pan, creating a significant leak.  

The UVic team re-evaluated the Windform range of high-performance materials available from CRP USA for the 2019 vehicle, and chose to go with carbon-filled Windform SP composite material due to its higher melting point when compared to the Windform XT 2.0 material (FIGURE). By doing so, the team increased the thickness of the mating flange to allow for a large amount of surface area for an aluminum pressure flange. The changes resulted in a more-robust oil pan. 

For more information, please visit crp-usa.net and windform.com.

Sponsored Recommendations

Melles Griot® XPLAN™ CCG Lens Series

March 19, 2024
IDEX Health & Science sets a new standard with our Melles Griot® XPLAN™ CCG Lens Series fluorescence microscope imaging systems. Access superior-quality optics with off-the-shelf...

Spatial Biology

March 19, 2024
Spatial Biology refers to the field that integrates spatial information into biological research, allowing for the study of biological systems in their native spatial context....

Custom-Engineered Optical Solutions for Your Application

March 19, 2024
We combine advanced optical design and manufacturing technology, with decades of experience in critical applications, to take you from first designs to ongoing marketplace success...

Semrock Optical Filters Resources

March 19, 2024
Looking for more information about Semrock optical filters? Explore sets by fluorophore, download the 2023 Semrock catalog and more.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!