Conflux Technology, an Australian studio developing some of the most advanced additively manufactured heat exchanger designs, will be producing a new set of 3D printed heat exchangers in partnership with Dallara, Italy.
Besides developing its own hypercars, Dallara is a contract builder for just about every motorsport category across the globe. Their reputation for designing and building race cars is impeccable and the company has extensive expertise working with AM and composites.
For Conflux, this is an extension of the company’s motorsport pedigree, proof of performance capabilities, and commercially viable products. Conflux Technology began its AM journey in motorsport, giving this project special significance for the team.
“Conflux heat exchangers derive their performance from highly complex geometries that make use of the inherent freedoms afforded by Additive Manufacturing,” said Michael Fuller, CEO & Founder of Conflux Technology. “Dallara set us an initial challenge to produce small heat exchangers that meet stringent performance, quality and cost targets. To achieve this, our engineers are working alongside Dallara personnel with the ultimate aim to improve fundamental efficiencies in the automotive and motorsport sector.”
Manufacturing on Demand
Since its founding, Conflux Technology focused its efforts on developing new and innovative solutions for the thermal and fluid engineering. In a 2018 case study, the company detailed how it utilized EOS’ metal 3D printing technology to prototype and produce new and more efficient 3D printed heat exchangers.
Dallara is a leader in the design and manufacture of racing cars, providing cars as sole supplier to IndyCar, Indy Lights, GP2, GP3, Formula 3.5 V8, Super Formula, and Renault Sport Trophy. The company also provides cars to all Formula 3 championships, and for instructional leagues such as the Formulino, for the Formula E championship, for WEC, and ELMS.
The three core competencies of Dallara include design and production (using composite materials in carbon fiber), aerodynamics (wind tunnel and CFD) and vehicle dynamics (simulation and testing). In the last few years, the Engineering division at Dallara has significantly expanded its activities and it has attracted business from some of the most important names in the automotive industry including Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bugatti, Ferrari, Porsche, KTM, Lamborghini and Maserati.
In 2012, the company opened an engineering center (Dallara LLC) in Speedway, Indiana, that was formed to be the sole supplier of chassis and components currently used in the IndyCar and IndyLights Series. Since its opening, Dallara LLC has been able to diversify its activities, expanding to the aerospace and defense industries and by becoming ISO 9001:2008 certified.
In 2016, Dallara began a joint venture with Cadillac to design and manufacture an LMP2 car, which became the Cadillac Dpi that races in the IMSA Series.The same building is also home to an edutainment center, where visitors can learn, while having fun, how a racing car is designed, developed and produced.
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Author: Davide Sher
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