At RPWORLD, advancing product innovation for young professionals is deeply rooted in our tradition. We're delighted to support the innovative product designers and engineers as they are on their creative journeys. Recently, we sponsored the αCentauri Solar Racing team with customized components needed to the mechanical braking system of their solar car. The αCentauri team, running out of ETH Zurich, is dedicated to cultivating technical talents who are passionate about addressing environmental challenges. This partnership perfectly aligns with our mission to promote innovation and sustainability.

The initiation of solar car development by αCentauri team was driven by a noble cause —addressing the threat to the nation's lost glaciers due to climate change. The project aimed to use solar energy to redefine sustainable transportation, and to inspire the world towards a more sustainable future. This led them to target the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. It is a 3,000km race through the Australian outback. In this challenge, 42 teams from 21 countries will race solar cars across Australia, testing both technology and human endurance.

When faced with the challenging task of creating customized parts for the solar racing car, αCentauri team turned to RPWORLD. The team manager expressed his concerns:

｜The Comprehensive DFM Analysis

Our dedicated team of engineering professionals love to provide suggestions on manufacturing selection, design optimization, material selection, and post-processing methods for the project. When considering the bracket, the αCentauri team initially intended to use CNC machining. However, with comprehensive analysis, our engineer suggested sheet metal fabrication from Aluminum 5052, with the parts manufactured from a standard sheet metal of 3mm thickness.

｜Material Selection

The steering wheel transmission shaft components demanded aluminum material with exceptional characteristics. Different grades of aluminum materials present distinct characteristics. Here’s the comparison of several commonly used aluminum materials.

We selected aluminum 6082-T6 and aluminum 7075-T651 for the solar racing car project due to their superior strength and good anodizing properties, which are crucial for the high-performance demands of the vehicle.