This 3D Printed Titanium Part Protects IndyCar Drivers | The Cool Parts Show #67

IndyCar has implemented 3D printing for a metal part that helps protect its drivers. The IndyCar racing series (which includes car races such as the Indianapolis 500) mandated a new safety component on its cars beginning in 2020: the top frame. This titanium piece sits in front of and above the driver to protect him or her in the event of a crash, and holds in place the aeroscreen, a protective windshield that deflects any debris that might injure a driver on the track. The top frame was developed on a rapid timeline that only 3D printing could support. But now, the second generation of this component takes the capabilities of additive manufacturing further, leveraging AM for a design that reduces the weight of the component and improves its strength for the 2024 racing season.
This episode of The Cool Parts Show brought to you by Carpenter Additive: www.carpenteradditive.com
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[@rwalkenhorst]

One of the scariest things in open-wheel racing is a flying wheel. While I occasionally wax nostalgic for the days of the truly open cockpit, I can certainly understand why sanctioning bodies would take steps to avoid drivers literally losing their heads.
Great to see clips from Road America, which I've been around many times in a roadracing kart. I think I could drive that four-mile course in my sleep.

[@jacobp8294]

I watch every episode of this show with my family, we love it!

[@AdditiveManufacturing]

Thank you for watching. Hello to the family!

[@DrLesterTheSmith]

I wish I had known you were in Indy. It would have been nice to meet up to talk shop and show you my lab.

[@AdditiveManufacturing]

Tell us more here! What are you working on?

[@DrLesterTheSmith]

​@@AdditiveManufacturing At work I design and print reusable 3D printed bioreactors (The publication is hopefully coming out soon)and 3D printed lab instruments (pipettes, micropipettors, print-in-place goggles, etc.). At home I am developing 3D printed tools for makers (thermoformers, extruders, etc.) and cat toys.

[@AqibKhan-xf8vo]

@additive ? DO you have any sustainability assessment of these parts ? Cost CO2 Energy?

[@AdditiveManufacturing]

We don’t have that information for these specific parts, but you might be interested in the study the Additive Manufacturing Green Trade Association (AMGTA) published last year comparing lifecycle assessments for conventional and LPBF aerospace brackets. The results are summarized in this press release: www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005344/en/AMGTA-Releases-First-Commissioned-Research-Paper

[@markbass_trojanthinking]

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