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Well, it's not like they can just redesign the entire platform at this point. Slapping some titanium on is probably the best move they can make right now. It sh

Well, it's not like they can just redesign the entire platform at this point. Slapping some titanium on is probably the best move they can make right now. It should satisfy any government and customer concerns for a problem that was pretty rare to begin with. As for the other materials we've been using them sparingly in vehicles. The new Ford F150 is using much more aluminum, enough to bring the weight down by about 900 pounds. Yet people are still criticizing aluminum as a material choice. It's not hard to see that aluminum, carbon fiber and other light weight materials are the future of vehicles. Yet some people are still afraid because they associate heavy steal with strength. That aluminum hood is the only part on my old truck that is not rusting through. Lighters, stronger, no rust. Where is the negative?

swimfar 13y ago
I think the concerns of the aluminum body panels on the new F-150 is specific to this segment (trucks). Utility vehicles are expected to take more abuse. Getting hit with tools/logs/ladders/etc. isn't uncommon and people are afraid their truck will look like a golf ball after a year. The main drawback of aluminum body panels is that it's difficult (i.e. expensive) to make them. I would imaging fatigue (from vibrations, for example) is also a larger problem in this application with aluminum than it is with steel. Citation on difficulties of fabrication (introduction paragraphs): http://www.thefabricator.com/article/stamping/warm-forming-of-alloys-in-the-auto-industry http://www.thefabricator.com/article/stamping/warm-forming-o... Additional considerations when designing dies for aluminum forming: http://www.schulergroup.com/major/us/technologien/produkte/aluminiumverarbeitung_systemanforderung_werkzeug/index.html http://www.schulergroup.com/major/us/technologien/produkte/a... A list of some cars using aluminum body panels: http://www.paintgages.com/List-of-Car-Manufacturers-who-use-Aluminum-Body-Panels-s/51.htm http://www.paintgages.com/List-of-Car-Manufacturers-who-use-...
- lotsofmangos 13y ago
  Land-Rover have been using aluminium body panels since 1948, and they can deal with untold amounts of abuse and still keep going. You just swap out the panels when they get too dented.
  - johnward 13y ago
    I think that aluminum holds up better against dings like a car door hitting your door.

swimfar 13y ago

I think the concerns of the aluminum body panels on the new F-150 is specific to this segment (trucks). Utility vehicles are expected to take more abuse. Getting hit with tools/logs/ladders/etc. isn't uncommon and people are afraid their truck will look like a golf ball after a year. The main drawback of aluminum body panels is that it's difficult (i.e. expensive) to make them. I would imaging fatigue (from vibrations, for example) is also a larger problem in this application with aluminum than it is with steel. Citation on difficulties of fabrication (introduction paragraphs): http://www.thefabricator.com/article/stamping/warm-forming-of-alloys-in-the-auto-industry http://www.thefabricator.com/article/stamping/warm-forming-o... Additional considerations when designing dies for aluminum forming: http://www.schulergroup.com/major/us/technologien/produkte/aluminiumverarbeitung_systemanforderung_werkzeug/index.html http://www.schulergroup.com/major/us/technologien/produkte/a... A list of some cars using aluminum body panels: http://www.paintgages.com/List-of-Car-Manufacturers-who-use-Aluminum-Body-Panels-s/51.htm http://www.paintgages.com/List-of-Car-Manufacturers-who-use-...

lotsofmangos 13y ago
Land-Rover have been using aluminium body panels since 1948, and they can deal with untold amounts of abuse and still keep going. You just swap out the panels when they get too dented.
- johnward 13y ago
  I think that aluminum holds up better against dings like a car door hitting your door.