Suspension Arm manufacturing question

[FloMo]

One more question regarding the suspension of the F1 cars.
I took a look at all the several pictures in the aero-mech development but can't quite make out, how they manufacture the A-Arms from CFRP.

Does anybody know whether they have a two shell design which is glued together, or if the A-Arm is consisting of several seamless parts.

Has anybody knowlegde of the process they use for these parts? Or is it the same like for the monocoque?

Thanks in advance.

Flo

[scarbs]

The parts can be made in several ways, two shells bonded or as a single shell wrapped around a; shaped Core with foaming resin, a mandrel or an inflatable bladder. As I understand the single shell is the preferred method, but the sub methods vary by team and even depending on the particular shape. Not all wishbones are one piece, they can be made from several sections bonded together.

Scarbs

PS Flo I've not forgotten your flexure info, I just need some time to dig out the stuff from my external hard disk. Will look for it at the weekend.

[pnagy]

What about the nose cone? Is it one piece or several that is glued together?

[humble sabot]

The nosecone is quite complicated in some ways and is no doubt a combination of methods.
Or rather is built in stages. If it were metal you would say 'fabricated'.

[FW 21]

The nosecone is quite complicated in some ways and is no doubt a combination of methods.
Or rather is built in stages. If it were metal you would say 'fabricated'.

The noses I have been involved with were are all laminated in two halves until the outerskins are finished.

The two mould halves are then bolted together. generally one half is laminated "longer" on one half with staggered plies, and the other half with dropoffs in the plies so that when the two halves are joined there is a consistent join.

In cheaper one make series, the two halves can be laminated with dropoffs on both sides and just a joining strip laminated in after the two halves are bolted together.

After curing inserts are glued in and the aluminium honeycomb and is bonded in with a film adhesive. The nose is then cured again.

Finally the inner skin is then laminated over the honeycomb.