PENSKE, 3D JOIN FORCES FOR PARTS.Byline: Daily News VALENCIA - 3D Systems Corp. in Valencia has joined forces with Penske Racing Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the Indy Racing League, ALMS, and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, Formula One and CART. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske. for its NASCAR NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), organization that sanctions American stock-car races, est. 1948. It held its first race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Winston Cup programs to build prototype parts for race cars driven by Rusty Wallace Russell William "Rusty" Wallace (born August 14, 1956 in Fenton, Missouri) is a former NASCAR champion, NASCAR Busch Series car owner, and television broadcaster with ESPN and ESPN on ABC. Wallace had his first live broadcast of the Indy 500 on May 28, 2006. and Ryan Newman Ryan Joseph Newman (born December 8, 1977 in South Bend, Indiana) (he shares this birthdate with fellow driver Kevin Harvick) is a driver in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. He drives the #12 Alltel, Mobil 1, Kodak Dodge Avenger for Penske Racing. . 3D Systems' solid imaging technology will be used to create the models from computer images. The high-tech process enables Penske engineers to produce new parts easily and quickly from computer-aided design computer-aided design (CAD) or computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), form of automation that helps designers prepare drawings, specifications, parts lists, and other design-related elements using special graphics- and calculations-intensive data, helpful in making quick adjustments to improve performance between racing events. As part of the alliance, Penske is using 3D's SLA (1) (StereoLithography Apparatus) See 3D printing. (2) (Service Level Agreement) A contract between the provider and the user that specifies the level of service expected during its term. 5000 system and a ThermoJet solid object printer. The machines, in use and on display at Penske Racing headquarters in Mooresville, N.C., create models, visual aids and wind tunnel models, as well as aid in the production of final assemblies fitted on the race cars. ``3D Systems' advanced technology allows us to be extremely flexible with our vehicle design and manufacturing,'' said Nelson Cosgrove, lead engineer for Penske Racing. ``ThermoJet printer models are used as direct tooling for investment castings that are finish-machined and put into service on our race cars. We can make numerous changes to parts between production runs without major tooling costs.'' The ThermoJet printer sprays layers of thermoplastic A polymer material that turns to liquid when heated and becomes solid when cooled. There are more than 40 types of thermoplastics, including acrylic, polypropylene, polycarbonate and polyethylene. material to create solid objects. For Penske's production and testing process, the high-end SLA 5000 system builds parts using a laser that hardens liquid plastic layer by layer, forming three-dimensional models from digital designs of engine components, aerodynamic surfaces and other complex part geometries. ``Penske Racing competes 36 weekends a year, and each of our teams has seven two-day test sessions. This does not allow for long-lead research and development,'' Cosgrove said. The deal with Penske is an example of how 3D's technology can be used in various fields, company officials said. |
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