Problem
Van Amersfoort Racing is a Dutch racing team which competes in both Formula 3 and Formula 4 competitive stages. This means that the speed, strength and resilience of their vehicles is of paramount importance.
Formula cars must be fine-tuned before each race, with the knowledge that a 1/10 of a second is the difference between winning and losing. Van Amersfoort, however, find themselves to be in a difficult time constraint whilst they are tuning their vehicles, with only 2 weeks to tune the cars after their arrival in the workshop.
Solution
After having introduced Ultimaker S5 3D printers into their manufacturing process, this 2 week time constraint became infinitely more achievable. Previously, Van Amersfoort Racing Team would have to wait for bespoke tools to arrive so that they could fine tune their vehicles but now, these tools can be designed and printed in two days, allowing the team to start tuning their vehicles far sooner than before. For example, a rear alignment tool was designed and printed to be used on the taillight of a Formula 3 vehicle; allowing for the mechanics to accurately adjust the wheels of the car to ensure that they were perfected adjusted to be used on the track. Due to the open-source nature of Ultimaker 3D printing machines, the racing team were also able to explore more interesting material options. Clariant PA6/66 20CF is such a material, containing 20% carbon fibre which makes it incredibly strong and light. The racing team used this material on its rear-alignment tools as PLA materials would not be strong or stiff enough for the task.
