The magnesium alloy sub-frame jointly developed and manufactured by NBTZ Precision Mould Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai Jiaotong University and Dongfeng Motor, recently won the gold medal casting and gold medal mold at the 15th International Die Casting Exhibition. This is also the world's first magnesium alloy sub-car frame.
In recent years, as energy and environmental issues have become the focus of human attention, automobile lightweight has become a “new fashion” for energy conservation and emission reduction in the automobile industry, and technical research on “lightweight” automobile parts and materials has become automobile production The important direction of the enterprise. Among them, the sub-frame, as a support for supporting front and rear axles and suspension, has been doing research on lightweight technology. At present, aluminum alloy or aluminum-magnesium alloy subframes are mainly used on models.
"These materials also have a good'lightweight' effect, but compared with magnesium alloy materials, they have lower mass density, excellent vibration damping, higher specific strength and specific rigidity, and can be recycled and used in new energy vehicles. , Has a very big development prospect." NBTZ technical director Zhou Xiangyu introduced. However, due to the characteristics of magnesium alloy materials, various conditions in the manufacturing process are extremely harsh and difficult.
According to Zhou Xiangyu, in 2017, Dongfeng Motor hopes to launch magnesium alloy subframe products due to its own development needs. NBTZ obtained Dongfeng Motor's order for magnesium alloy sub-frame molds through bidding. In the mold industry at that time, no company had tried magnesium alloy production. Faced with pressure and doubts, NBTZ chose to use actions to prove it.
At that time, NBTZ established a five-person R&D team headed by Zhou Xiangyu. From design, development to production, the R&D team encountered a lot of "technical bottlenecks". "Among these, the most difficult part is the high vacuum of the mold." Zhou Xiangyu said . In the process of mold manufacturing, there is a vacuuming process. Ordinary vacuum molds generally need to be 100 mbar, but magnesium alloy subframe molds must be within 50 mbar. The R&D team made many attempts, and chose to compare multiple suppliers for the light-sealed valve. In the development process, facing a number of technical problems and the properties of the material itself, the R&D team needs to rush to Shanghai from time to time to discuss and exchange with Shanghai Jiaotong University, the die casting plant and Dongfeng Motor.
After more than two years of unremitting efforts and overcoming various difficulties, NBTZ finally successfully developed the world's first magnesium alloy subframe mold in 2019 and successfully delivered it to Dongfeng Motor. Currently, the mold is in the testing stage. "The research and development of magnesium alloy sub-frame is a challenge. Now that it has succeeded, it is an improvement of the company's ability." Said Wang Aiguang, deputy general manager of the company.
The success of NBTZ is inseparable from the company's investment in research and development technology over the years. As one of the top ten die-casting mold companies in China, in recent years, NBTZ has actively improved its independent innovation capabilities. It has gathered a group of top die-casting technology and mold manufacturing R&D technicians at home and abroad. The talent echelon is solid and stable, and it has established multiple design R&D centers to ensure From mold development and design to mold production output, the entire process of scientific and effective manufacturing services provides technology and support for the company's ability to manufacture "high, precise, and sharp" molds.