Development of lighter structural components by minimized thickness
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Swerea SWECAST AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 500 000 |
| Project duration | June 2016 - January 2017 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The strategic innovation programme SIP LIGHTer |
| Call | 2015-06967-en |
Important results from the project
The purpose is to create prerequisites for producing lighter Components by decreasing the wall thickness on high pressure die cast Components with virtual Product development. Focus has been to show the possibility of decreasing wall thickness by 25% and thereby decrease weight of the Component. This has been proven virtually on a high pressure die cast lid where the thickness has decreased from 3,5 to 2 mm. The Project will identify what it takes to increase virtual Product development in high pressure die cast Components and one important step is to verify reliability in the softwares.
Expected long term effects
By producing thin walled Components the foundries will increase their competitiveness towards foreign suppliers. Thin walled Components give lighter Products which will lead to decreased fuel consumption.
Approach and implementation
The Project is characterized as a feasibility study. The work has been performed in Close colaboration with the industrial companies on their Components where the companies have conducted virtual modifications. Swerea SWECAST has then performed simulations in Commercial softwares to investigate whether the modified Components are possible to die cast.