Ford develops unique metal AM locking wheel nut designs based on driver’s voice

January 31, 2020

ApplicationsNews
January 31, 2020
Ford develops unique metal AM locking wheel nut designs based on driver’s voice
Ford’s anti-theft wheel nuts, metal additively manufactured on an EOS machine (Courtesy EOS GmbH)

Ford Motor Company, headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, USA, has partnered with EOS GmbH, Krailling, Germany, to develop a unique anti-theft locking wheel nut for its vehicles. The design concept uses the owners voice pattern to define the physical shape of the lock.  

According to the automotive manufacturer, as car security systems become increasingly more sophisticated thieves are targeting car parts instead, including alloy wheels. While current locking nuts can be used to deter theft by requiring a key to loosen them, they are not invulnerable.

Ford’s new locking wheel nut concept is designed using a recording of the drivers voice, speaking for a minimum of one second. The recording is then converted into a physical pattern based on the soundwave, which is used as the design for the locking nut’s indentation and key.

The nut and key are metal additively manufactured as one piece in stainless steel on an EOS machine. When complete, the two parts are separated, with a small amount of grinding being required to ready them for use.

The nut and key design also includes second level security features, which help to prevent the nut from being cloned or copied. Because the design features unevenly spaced ribs inside the nut and indentations that widen the deeper they go, a thief would be unable to make a wax imprint of the pattern as the wax would break when pulled from the nut.  

Ford stated that design options for the metal AM nuts and keys are not limited to the soundwave pattern. Other designs could include the driver’s initials, or patterns inspired by the driver’s interests, such as the outline of a famous racetrack.

Raphael Koch, Research Engineer, Advanced Materials and Processes, Ford of Europe, stated, “It’s one of the worst experiences for a driver, to find their car up on blocks with all four wheels gone. Some alloy wheels can cost thousands to replace, but these unique rim nuts will stop thieves in their tracks. Making wheels more secure and offering more product personalisation are further proof that 3D printing is a game-changer for car production.”

www.ford.com

www.eos.info

ApplicationsNews
January 31, 2020

In the latest issue of Metal AM magazine

Download PDF
 

Extensive AM industry news coverage, as well as the following exclusive deep-dive articles:

  • Back to the future: A decade of Additive Manufacturing innovation and growth at Materials Solutions
  • Win or lose: A CEO’s reflections on Artificial Intelligence and Additive Manufacturing
  • AMS 2025 New York: A reality check for the Additive Manufacturing industry
  • Optimising powder removal in PBF-LB Additive Manufacturing: A Digital Twin approach
  • ValCUN’s MMD: A robust, wire-based aluminium AM technology for defence and industrial applications
  • Enhancing quality and reliability in metal Additive Manufacturing: The role of laser calibration

TRUSTED CONTENT. TARGETED AUDIENCE

Advertise with Metal AM and access a global base of 50,000+ AM professionals.

Contact Jon Craxford: [email protected]

  • AM machines
  • Process monitoring & calibration
  • Heat treatment & sintering
  • HIP systems & services
  • Pre- & post-processing technology
  • Powders, powder production and analysis
  • Part manufacturers
  • Consulting, training & market data

Don’t miss a thing – register for our newsletter

Don't miss any new issue of Metal AM magazine, and get the latest industry news. Sign up to our twice weekly newsletter.

Register now

Join 40,000+ other AM professionals – follow us online

About Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine

Metal AM magazine, published quarterly in digital and print formats, is read by a rapidly expanding international audience.

Our audience includes component manufacturers, end-users, materials and equipment suppliers, analysts, researchers and more.

In addition to providing extensive industry news coverage, Metal AM magazine is known for exclusive, in-depth articles and technical reports.

Our focus is the entire metal AM process from design to application.

Each issue is available as an easy-to-navigate digital edition and a high-quality print publication.

Discover our magazine archive…

The free to access Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of metal Additive Manufacturing from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading metal AM part manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

Browse the archive

Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap