Volkswagen Group has released a video where it tests 3D-printed, 8-piston brake supports made of titanium. The company plans to introduce these in the Bugatti Chiron hypercar series.
According to the manufacturer, a titanium brake support weighs 2.9kg (6.4 lb) and is thus 2.0kg (4.4 lbs) lighter than an aluminum one. The manufacturing process involves high-precision CNC machining using the equipment provided by Laser Zentrum Nord.
It takes 45 hours to produce a single brake support using four lasers that bake together 2,200 layers of titanium powder. To guarantee maximum deformational stability, each part then undergoes complex mechanical, chemical and thermal treatment.
Photo: Volkswagen Group