The term 'chemical machining' can cover a wide range of processes, but all are basically characterised by slow rates of material removal which varies according to the geometry of the part, the material and the chemical agent used to remove the material from the surface of the part. Because they don't use physical 'hard' tooling, the processes, aren't restricted by difficult geometry such as undercuts, or very narrow or very deep features. The essence of the process is...
Testing materials and components to ascertain their mechanical properties is vital in vehicle development, especially when it comes to composite components. After all, it is very difficult to build a part to withstand a set loading, and keep it as light as possible, if you do not know the precise properties of the materials being used. These days, FEA simulation removes the need for a large amount of physical testing, but simulation packages still need data, and some people cannot afford...
Motorsport engineers are constantly striving to create ever-lighter and more efficient components, yet at the same time they must stay within regulatory frameworks and ensure the components are durable under race conditions. Last month we touched on the subject of using composites for the construction of transmission casings, a subject we will look at in more depth here. Composites have been used to great effect in racecar construction since the 1980s, but it is only in the past decade...
The poppet valve in an internal combustion engine is subjected to some very harsh operating conditions, with rapidly changing stress and thermal cycles. There are generally four other components that are in contact with the valve - the lash cap, stem seal, valve guide and valve seat. Some engines run without stem seals though, and lash caps were dealt with in another RET-Monitor article recently. Although they have a very similar cycle of operation, the inlet and exhaust valves are...
The main constituent parts of a modern race engine are very similar to those we would have found in their ancestors of 40-50 years ago. Unless dictated otherwise by rules, we are likely to find aluminium structural castings, aluminium pistons, steel camshafts and a steel crankshaft. The Ford-Cosworth DFV Formula One engine conceived in the 1960s differs little in these respects from its descendant, the Cosworth CA2010 Formula One engine. However, although other engines might differ from...