GM's two-seat technology showcase.Hydroforming hy·dro·form·ing n. A process in which naphthas are converted to high-octane aromatics in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst under pressure and heat. hy is essential to the Kappa platform that underpins the Pontiac Solstice The Pontiac Solstice is a roadster from the Pontiac division of General Motors. Introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show, the Solstice began production in Wilmington, Delaware, starting in mid-2005 for the 2006 model year. . According to Jim According to Jim is an American situation comedy television series originally broadcast by ABC. The show premiered with little publicity in October 2001, following the surprise hit comedy My Wife and Kids. Queen, vice president, GM North America Engineering, the hydroformed frame rails are just the tip of the iceberg tip of the iceberg n. pl. tips of the iceberg A small evident part or aspect of something largely hidden: afraid that these few reported cases of the disease might only be the tip of the iceberg. . The body panels themselves--especially the curvaceous cur·va·ceous adj. Having the curves of a full or voluptuous figure. cur·va  ceous·ly adv. section
behind the cockpit that encompasses twin peaks behind the
headrests--would not be possible to produce in steel without the use of
sheet hydroforming.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "There were other materials and processes we could have used to produce these panels, but we would have missed our targets," says Queen. These included the use of composites and quick plastic forming of aluminum sheet. However, both fell short of hydroformed steel sheet in terms of strength and cost. "With the low production volume slated for the Kappa platform," says Queen, "we could stretch a bit in terms of design, materials, and processes." And gaining more experience with sheet hydroforming was another plus for this process. "We have people working diligently on moving sheet hydroforming toward high-volume production, just as we do with quick plastic forming of aluminum," says Queen. This focus is necessary, he insists, if GM is to give its customers stand-out designs at competitive costs in the coming years.--CAS |
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