LIFT-Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow, a national manufacturing innovation institute operated by the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMMII), has announced a new project with the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) to test and evaluate mixed-material joining technologies.
"As the automotive industry continues to search for new and innovative ways to save on weight, cost and production time, automakers and suppliers are looking to a wider range of materials, including different types of metals and polymer composites. Joining dissimilar materials is one of the major barriers in implementing the right material for the right application strategy. The industry has been developing innovative processes for mixed-material applications, but the road to production is slow. New technologies will require independent testing and validation in a controlled environment," said a company spokesperson.
This project, part of LIFT's Fast Forge program, is led by LIFT and CAR, and partners include CAR's Coalition for Lightweighting Materials (CALM) working group and LIFT members. The project team will test various joining technologies and recommend the most optimal joining technologies for specific material combinations. The results of this study will be published in the public domain and shared at various industry events. Thereby, increasing awareness and reducing the technology qualification barrier.
"Mixed materials are the future for not just the auto industry, but other industries as well, as they look to save on weight, time and ultimately cost," said Hadrian Rori, Chief Technology Officer, LIFT. "As we look toward a Smart Manufacturing future, testing, studying and validating those materials is critical to supporting the industry."
The result will include a detailed catalogue containing information on innovative mixed-material joining technologies, including selection criteria, computer-aided engineering results, physical testing data for various combinations and application-specific recommendations for the industry.
"LIFT is the right organization to partner with on this project," said Abhay Vadhavkar, Director of Materials and Manufacturing Technology, CAR. "With both LIFT and CAR here in southeast Michigan, the epicenter of the auto industry, it is a perfect fit to team up to advance the materials technology into the future."
The project will take place in three phases to be completed by October 31, 2019. The phases include:
- Data collection, survey and application specific technology selections
- Computer Aided Simulation Studies
- Coupon-level testing
- Ranking of technologies for each material combination for specific applications, including: front structure, underbody, roof, body sides, rear-end and closures.
The "Fast Forge" program at LIFT is designed to solicit new lightweight materials project ideas and put teams together to develop new technologies.
For more information contact:
LIFT
1400 Rosa Parks Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48216
313-309-9003
www.lift.technology/lift-fast-forge
Center for Automotive Research (CAR)
www.cargroup.org