Page 6 - MODCOMP NEWSLETTER 5

Newsletter, Volume 5
MODCOMP's Automotive Demonstrators:
Handbrake lever and steering knuckle
Some adjustable handbrake levers for motorcy-
cles made by composite material have been
manufactured by SICOMP in the beginning of
2019. C-Weave 400 T 6K HS X 125CM (woven
carbon fabric) with Bodopox AF-1200 (base
resin) and Bodocure INF 32 medium (hardener)
were used to produce the levers.
Breaks
Some tests were made in Brembo to evaluate
the mechanical behaviour of these prototypes.
Despite the first one hasn’t shown resistance is-
sues, the stiffness was a bit poor for a real appli- The first steering knuckle for a car made by com-
cation.
Tests of breaks
For this reason, a new prototype with a different
shape was produced and tested. The last proto-
type that has solved the highlighted problem,
was obtained modifying the machining area in
order to keep more material (+5 g) on the lever.
The difference between the two prototypes can
be clearly seen in the first picture. The new com-
posite lever allows a mass reduction of about
40% compared with the traditional one made by
aluminium. The levers with CNTs are also ready
for the tests that will be done before the end of
the year.
posite material have been manufactured by Yu-
zhnoye SDO. G0926 (carbon fabric) with Araldite
LY 556 (epoxy resin), Aradur 917 (hardener), DY
070 (accelerator) were used to produce the
knuckle.
After a geometrical check of the prototype,
Brembo is completing the design of the equip-
ment needed to perform the tests on the
knuckle.
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