In the pursuit to stay at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, French carmaker Bugatti goes to great lengths to find new ways to constantly update and improve its hypercars. The latest attempt by the marque to introduce ‘industry first’ technology in car making includes 3D-printing – a technology that is slowly transforming the manufacturing industry. Bugatti, recently, revealed details on how the company has developed a 3D-printed titanium brake caliper. What’s interesting is that the 8-piston caliper, which has been created for the front wheels of the 1,480-horsepower Chiron, is the single biggest 3D-printed car component made from titanium.
The 3D-printed caliper measures 16 inches in length and weighs 6.4 pounds, making it almost 40 percent lighter than the current brake caliper used on the hypercar. It is made out of aerospace-grand titanium alloy, which replaces forged aluminum alloy brake calipers on current Chirons, and is normally used for aircraft undercarriage and rocket engines. Bugatti developed this technology in collaboration with Laser Zentrum Nord in Hamburg, Germany. Each of these brake caliper take about 45 hours to 3D print and have been designed with minimum weight and maximum flex stiffness in mind. The automaker plans to enter the new caliper in series production vehicle trials starting early this year.
[Via:Slashgear]
