Tesla produced the first Model Y front subframe at Gigafactory Texas prior to the start of vehicle production with the new structural battery technology.
Megacasting will go to each side of the structural battery pack to create this new three-part simple vehicle platform. In the picture, the chassis experts in Tesla helmets can be seen admiring the new giant piece.
The auto industry has long found auto parts, but generally limits the size of the molds and instead generally assembles smaller parts. The idea with this method is to be able to make a subframe with fewer fragments and with fewer robots involved in production, lowering costs.
However, in recent years, Tesla has pushed the limits on the size of castings to simplify the production process.
Axel Turck, CEO of Emil Turck GmbH & Cie KG and die casting specialist, mentioned that the subframe was produced in Texas by an Idra casting machine. The expert also mentioned that the piece weighs 130 kilograms (286 pounds).
About the structural battery
At its Battery Day event last year, Tesla introduced not only its new 4680 battery cell, but also a new battery architecture built around the new cell.
Inspired by the aerospace innovation of building airplane wings as fuel tanks instead of building the fuel tanks inside the wings, Tesla decided to build a battery pack that acts as a body structure, linking the front and rear of the vehicle bodywork.
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Currently, Tesla builds battery packs by combining cells into modules, which when put together form a battery pack. That battery pack is installed in the platform of the vehicle.
The difference now with the new concept is that Tesla does not use modules and instead builds the entire battery pack as the structural platform of the vehicle, and the battery cells help solidify the platform as one large unit.
Using its expertise in giant castings, Tesla can connect a large front and rear bottom in one piece to this structural battery pack.
The Tesla Model Y is a compact, 100% electric, segment D SUV, manufactured by Tesla. It is the crossover version of the Tesla Model 3, with whom it shares technology, platform, mechanics and 75% of the components.
Written by | Gabriel Sayago
