Recently, Idra, an Italian die-casting technology company, announced that a “global-leading new energy vehicle manufacturer” had ordered the world’s first 8,000-ton casting machine from them. Musk had previously stated that Tesla was seeking to purchase the world’s largest die-casting machine for the production of the Cybertruck’s integrated rear underbody.
Currently, Tesla’s four super factories have installed 6,000-ton die-casting machines, which are used to produce the integrated rear underbody of the Model 3 and Model Y. With this equipment, two integrated die-castings can replace 70 traditional auto parts, reducing manufacturing costs and increasing production efficiency.
The larger die-casting closing force can produce larger volume and more complex structural parts. Die-casting machines used in the automotive industry are typically between 1,000 and 4,000 tons and can produce relatively simple structural parts. Tesla was the first to introduce a 6,000-ton die-casting machine to produce larger parts required for the Cybertruck, and now they are again leading the way by introducing the 8,000-ton die-casting machine.
Due to quality control issues with the structural components produced by high-pressure die-casting and limitations on material usage (steel cannot be used), as of now, no other automaker has used similar production equipment to Tesla.
Source: Tesla
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