afs.gif (3195 bytes)

 amc.gif (6172 bytes) sfsa_s.gif (4934 bytes)
A Design Study in Metal Matrix Composite Castings - AAAV Transmission Case                                           

Material Selection Challenge
  • The combined requirement for high stiffness and low weight in the transmission case cannot be met with conventional aluminum or iron casting alloys.
  • A metal matrix composite (MMC) alloy, specificaly, aluminum with silicon carbide particulate, offers the best combination of high modulus, low density and castability

wpe24.jpg (14116 bytes)

Aluminum MMC castings are being commercialy used for high performance automotive brakes.

The challenge in manufacturing the transmission case was to select the best  alloy and to design the casting features to meet the performance and production targets, specifically --

--    Achieving the desired stiffness and weight reduction
--   Designing the casting and the rigging system to insure soundess
      and to meet the required dimensional tolerances
--   Developing and using cost-effective machining procedures.


Back


Next

6

 

afs.gif (3195 bytes)
Return to AFS
Home Page

 Copyright 2001 by the American Foundry
Society  All rights reserved. 
Address comments to:  jss@afsinc.org
Last Modified:August, 2001 by STG

arrow_top.gif (1191 bytes)
Page 1

In Cooperation with
Eck Industries

 wpe9.jpg (2134 bytes)