BEYOND SURFACES

Solutions Is additive manufacturing rocket science? Not necessarily! For anything from race cars to pumps, additive manufacturing can optimize even relatively simple and unspectacular components to give them a positive impact on the entire system. “We are engaged in a general rethink: we’re moving away from conventional manufacturing technologies, where something is subtracted, to instead focus on adding. This requires less material, resources and time, while simultaneously increasing efficiency. That’s why additive manufacturing is ideal for, among other things, for low-volume, intri- cate parts that consist of only as much material as their function requires,” says Ralph Merget, Vertical Lead Business Development Automotive, Industry & Tooling at Oerlikon AM. And just how different the applications can be is illustrated by the following two examples. doUBle-helIX STRUCTURe: CoolIng plATe FoR A RACe CAR “Intricate” is the first word that comes to mind when looking at this structure. That’s supposed to be a cooling plate? Especially for a race car? Felix Sanke from KA-race.ing (see box) explains: “The cars we use in Formula Student are powered electrically. The power electronics are installed between the DC battery and the three-phase motor. In the inverter, the current is Add, don’T SUBTRACT! 12