Manufacturing

Advanced out-of-autoclave composites process accelerates curing, enhances adhesion of fasteners A new IR-assisted advanced out-of-autoclave (OOA) process from Kubota Research Associates reportedly enhances adhesion properties and “significantly” accelerates the curing speed of thermoset resin systems for installing adhesive bonded fasteners onto composite fuselage and metal structures. Read full story

Boeing gets 787 interior ‘right first time’ To achieve "right first time” successes, the Boeing Interiors group departed from the norm and used an automotive tool to reduce installation times from 3500 to 232 h on the 787. Read full story

Hydroformed pillars are world’s first in 2013 Ford Fusion Ford is using hydroformed steel tubes, in DP1000 alloy, for the B-pillar and A-pillar roof rail in the new Fusion sedan. Engineers say the benefits are numerous vs. using hot-stamped, welded sheet. Read full story

Automotive energy management: finding hidden costs Around $400 of cost per vehicle could be hiding in your automotive supply chain. Do you know where to find it? Read full story

GM tools up for high-volume aluminum structures with new welding technology The process centers on a new electrode-tip design. It will enable GM’s global body shops to spot-weld virtually any combination of aluminum sheet, extrusions, and castings at higher production rates than are currently used in automotive aluminum-structures manufacturing. Read full story

Higher-volume vehicle gets carbon-fiber body panels produced in less time A new processing technology for carbon-fiber body panels at Plasan Carbon Composites will mark its production debut on a future vehicle with a yearly volume of as much as 50,000 units. Read full story

New IP process helps U.S. take lead global role for Honda manufacturing In-plant process starts at Marysville, OH, on 2013 Accord. Honda of America Manufacturing Inc. assumes responsibility for manufacturing procedures for all Honda vehicle production worldwide, as North America becomes top Honda production location. Read full story

Hyundai uses cloud server to remotely check vehicle performance Blue Link data modem transmits onboard diagnostic data to server as soon as vehicle comes off assembly line. Electronic Pre-Delivery Inspection system is in development, post-delivery monitoring requires attention to privacy concerns, and remote reflashing is on “wish list” but poses major challenges. Read full story

Advantages of additive manufacturing begin to add up Metal-based, powder-bed additive manufacturing builds up parts layer by layer, forming cross sections of the part in 20- to 80-micron thicknesses. Read full story