Compared with traditional metal processing applications, what are the common processing materials in the production of new light vehicles?

In our impression, most of the cars are almost composed of traditional metal processing, and most of the cars are made of steel frames, and the steel is very heavy. A few years ago, the average car contained 2,400 pounds of steel, and the average SUV contained 3,000 pounds. Traditional metalworking applications. When you add everything needed inside a modern car, total car weight tends to skyrocket.

And emerging automakers are constantly pushing to create the lightest cars to increase speed and power. So, what are the most common materials when automotive machining production designers need to reduce weight?

The goal of new lightweight vehicles is to increase performance and efficiency while maintaining safety and comfort. Roughly speaking, when the weight of the car is reduced by 10%, the efficiency of the vehicle can be increased from 5% to 8%. That might not seem like a lot, but in the competitive auto industry, it can make a world of difference.

Compared to standard steel machining structures, this is the most common machining material for light vehicles:

1. Magnesium

2. Carbon fiber

3. Aluminum/aluminum composite material

4. Titanium

5. Fiberglass

6. High-strength steel

Whether it's cost or comfort, there's a trade-off for every processing material. Carbon fiber is usually only used in expensive cars, but it's one of the most effective ways to maintain or increase strength while keeping costs down. Each material also presents its own manufacturing issues. For example, titanium is difficult to work with due to its impressive strength. Structural fiberglass can pose a hazard to workers. When choosing materials for a lightweight car, it often comes down to the details of the design and the company's manufacturing capabilities.

While lightweighting is used to increase the efficiency of a car, it's probably not for the reason you might think. Just making a car lighter by blind choice is not the answer. Instead, design engineers must consider the optimal operating curve of a modern engine and match the car's weight to it. In some cases, lightweighting may be more about hitting a target weight for an engine than making the car as light as a human.

Lightweight has also become a necessity for modern cars as hybrid and all-electric systems take off. The battery is heavy and there is no way to fix it. If you want to fill your car with a heavy-duty battery and get the best lineup on the market, your car has to be as light as possible. Teslas, for example, are made of aluminum to save weight. The chassis is constructed of titanium, and high-strength steel is used at key loading points for increased safety. This satisfies the need for lightweight electric vehicles and the whole problem that one material cannot solve the problem of lightweighting.

Lightweight is the present and future of automotive manufacturing. It brings innovative materials to the front lines of design. Car manufacturing is very different from what it was 50 years ago, and for the most part, that's a good thing.

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