Lexus, BMW now Benz going forward with Carbon Fiber..
05-02-10, 08:32 PM
#31
Carbon fiber is being looked at in part due to the drive for fuel efficiency, and actually a number of makers have tried using it (often subcontracted out). According to some industry articles, steel manufacturers countered with lighter and less expensive steel products, so car companies naturally looked towards the more conventional material. It was left to the aerospace industry, in applications such as military aircraft and now the Boeing 787, to use carbon fiber on a mass scale. Now, having absorbed steel advancements, top car makers are looking at CF again.
As for designing it in-house, the Ward's article mentioned that in addition to the carbon fiber weaving loom, Lexus engineers developed multiple techniques for automated CF production, and different techniques for weaving plus different material combinations, all to lower the overall cost and improve their capabilities. So while the loom is an achievement (to the point those YouTube videos were taken down for copyright reasons), there apparently are several additional avenues to explore, and the next Lexus models may benefit.
There can also be further benefit to developing expertise in-house rather than cut costs by outsourcing it, namely guarantees of design efficacy. The G37c vs. IS-C is an example, where many reviews have noted that the IS-C's retractable hard-top mechanism, designed and built in-house, is faster, more reliable, and smoother working that the subcontracted G37c's hard top (one review even mentions it failing to latch properly). With CF, it requires massive technical know-how developed with experience, which makes it less surprising that the LFA's development took so long, yet at the same time the use of exotic materials is a fascinating game for all the players.
As for designing it in-house, the Ward's article mentioned that in addition to the carbon fiber weaving loom, Lexus engineers developed multiple techniques for automated CF production, and different techniques for weaving plus different material combinations, all to lower the overall cost and improve their capabilities. So while the loom is an achievement (to the point those YouTube videos were taken down for copyright reasons), there apparently are several additional avenues to explore, and the next Lexus models may benefit.
There can also be further benefit to developing expertise in-house rather than cut costs by outsourcing it, namely guarantees of design efficacy. The G37c vs. IS-C is an example, where many reviews have noted that the IS-C's retractable hard-top mechanism, designed and built in-house, is faster, more reliable, and smoother working that the subcontracted G37c's hard top (one review even mentions it failing to latch properly). With CF, it requires massive technical know-how developed with experience, which makes it less surprising that the LFA's development took so long, yet at the same time the use of exotic materials is a fascinating game for all the players.
05-03-10, 05:52 AM
#32
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because CF is very expensive and it's only happening now because govts have once again abused their power and put guns to the heads of car companies, who if they still want to offer lots of equipment, have no choice but to use more and more exotic materials to keep weight down.
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