Ten-cylinder engines breathe easy

May 10, 2007
German automotive systems supplier Mahle Filtersysteme GmbH has designed one of the largest polyamide (PA) intake modules ever made for passenger cars.

Ten-cylinder engines breathe easy

Mahle designers also spec'd Ultramid B3WG6 GP for BMW four and six-cylinder engines: The eight-cylinder intake module, with its complex shape (top) and the large, two-part 10-cylinder intake manifold for the M5 and M6 models feature a special designer surface.


The module weighs more than 7 kg (15.4 lb) and goes into BMW 10-cylinder engines for M5 and M6 sports cars. The two-piece module is made from Ultramid B3WG6 GP, a 30% glass-fiber-reinforced PA6. The material comes from BASF Corp., Florham Park, N.J. The dimensionally stable PA6-GF30 features a bursting strength almost twice that of conventional PA grades. High-burst-strength materials create smooth, highly structured surfaces, says Nicole Berg, production engineer at the Mahle Co. in Öhringen. It also features a flame-retardant UL 94 HB rating (at 1.6 mm), an Izod-notched-impact strength of18 kJ/m2, a heat-deflection temperature (1.8 MPa) of 210°C (410°F), and a maximum service temperature (short-cycle operation) of 200°C (392°F).

Mahle designers also spec'd Ultramid B3WG6 GP for BMW four and six-cylinder engines. Intake manifolds for eight-cylinder engines posed a major challenge for designers because they have a variable length. Secure joining of the seven individual parts calls for five welding procedures. Manifold material mustn't warp much, important because individual parts are stored for different lengths of time. An accurate fit is also crucial for the 10-cylinder module because the two part halves must affix to the engine close to each other during final assembly.

Injection-molding cycles for each side of the intake module are about 4.5 sec at temperatures of about 280°C. The modules feature wall thickness of between 1 mm for small ribs and 3.5 mm at the "wings," to better resist inside pressure.

MAKE CONTACT
BASF Corp., (800) 669-2273,
www.plasticsportal.com
Mahle Filtersysteme, +49 (0) 79 41-67-0, www.mahle.com

 

Sponsored Recommendations

NEW Low Profile, Ultra Compact Power Supplies

March 13, 2024
Learn more HERE about Altech's Power supplies!

Altech's Liquid Tight Strain Relifs Catalog

March 13, 2024
With experienced Product Engineers and Customer Service personnel, Altech provides solutions to your most pressing application challenges. All with one thought in mind - to ensure...

Industrial Straight-Through Cable Gland

March 13, 2024
Learn more about Altech's cable glands and all they have to offer for your needs!

All-In-One DC-UPS Power Solutions

March 13, 2024
Introducing the All-In-One DC-UPS, a versatile solution combining multiple functionalities in a single device. Serving as a power supply, battery charger, battery care module,...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Machine Design, create an account today!