No matter what you do, the biggest fear is not knowing where to go.
As long as you have a clear direction, many things are actually not that difficult.
The research on four-wheel drive systems is similar.
Cao Yang pointed out the next technical direction for Nanshan Auto Parts, and Cheng Tao just arranged for people to get started.
Traditional four-wheel drive systems have various patent thresholds, but electric four-wheel drive systems are different.
I dare not say that all the auto parts giants have not started research and development, at least until now no one has come up with decent products.
The relevant patent thresholds are naturally even lower.
However, having figured out the development direction of the four-wheel drive system does not mean that there will be no problems with auto parts.
"Mr. Cao, our Xingchen No. 2 and Xingchen No. 3 are planning to use integrated hot stamping door ring parts, but no manufacturer in the industry is using this process."
"This is the first time we have developed a part like this, and we also found that there are many problems to be solved."
"The first is the problem of laser welding between hot stamped steel plates. Since the surface of the steel plates has an aluminum-silicon coating, this coating must be peeled off first before laser welding can be performed."
"Otherwise, the quality of laser welded seams will be very poor and cannot meet the strength requirements."
Although Dai Hanbiao is not a talent with a background in R&D, he has put in a lot of effort after taking charge of Nanshan Auto Parts.
Ask him to draw the drawings, and he probably won't be able to do it.
But if you want to comment on the performance of each part, there is no problem at all.
Like the welding process, many people think it is very simple.
In fact, there are many doorways inside.
In Nanshan Group, there are more than 20 technicians who specialize in welding technology.
Even so, it cannot be said that we have mastered all the welding processes required in the processing of automobile parts.
Spot welding, nut welding, MIG welding, MAG welding, carbon dioxide shielded welding, brazing, aluminum-aluminum welding, aluminum-iron welding, laser welding...
More than twenty people are going to study this thing, which is not only not a lot, but also a bit short of manpower.
Just like the current laser welding between hot stamped steel plates, they have not found a good way.
"We can cooperate with Harbin Institute of Technology or other universities with strong welding majors in this area."
"Their actual combat level may not necessarily be very high, but their theoretical level is absolutely no problem."
"If we all join forces, I think we can still handle the welding of hot stamping plates."
Cao Yang could understand the patent issue Dai Hanbiao mentioned.
As the world's largest manufacturer of hot stamped steel plates, ArcelorMittal has not only mastered the patent for hot stamped steel plates, but also the patent for laser welding of hot stamped steel plates.
The situations of laser welding and spot welding are very different.
For normal spot welding, whether it is an ordinary steel plate or a hot stamped steel plate, the process is the same.
It is nothing more than adjusting parameters such as current and voltage.
But when it comes to laser welding, the situation is very different.
Mainly for laser welding, there is often a very long weld. If the quality is not good, that place will definitely break first.
As for the welding of automobile parts, one of the most basic technical requirements is that when doing damage tests, the problem should not be the welding surface or the solder joint.
In other words, the welded parts of the body parts should be where they are strongest.
Even if this is not the case, it should not be a bottleneck.
Otherwise, you will fail the test.
"Looking for cooperation with universities is a good direction. I will make arrangements immediately."
"However, some engineers have also suggested that this door knocker system can be changed into several parts, and then welded after various shapes."
"This not only avoids the patent issue of laser welding, but also greatly reduces the difficulty of developing parts."
“At the same time, it can also reduce costs.”
Dai Hanbiao couldn't help but throw out a report plan he had heard before.
He also wanted to see what Cao Yang thought of this plan.
"This plan is naturally considered a feasible one, but the advantages are not as many as you think."
"First of all, in terms of publicity, the publicity effect of the integrated door knocker is definitely not comparable to that of a single hot stamping and welding."
"Secondly, although the integrated door knocker seems to have a more complicated process, the mold production requirements are also relatively high."
"But different thicknesses of steel plates can be used in different parts."
"For example, 1.8 mm thickness is used in areas where high strength is required, 1.2 mm steel plates are used in areas where low strength is required, and 1.6 mm steel plates are used in the transition areas in the middle."
"The combination of different thicknesses can effectively reduce costs and weight."
"In addition, this process structure can greatly reduce the number of parts."
“Combined with the stamping of the patch board, there is almost no need for several other stamping parts to meet the design requirements.”
Since Cao Yang has mentioned the integrated door knocker hot stamping technology before, he will naturally not give up easily.
This can completely become the standard feature of Xingchen cars in the future.
The Audi A8 can promote its all-aluminum body, and Xingchen Automobile can vigorously promote its door ring system.
In the future, relying on various excellent collision data, we can carry out waves of marketing.
"Hot stamping molds are inherently difficult and require relatively high processing requirements."
"The integrated door knocker requires a larger mold, and the corresponding press tonnage also needs to be increased from the current 800 tons to 1,200 tons."
"And the mold can only produce one, not two."
“The solution of cutting edges inside the mold that was previously considered would be difficult to implement in the door knocker system.”
These issues were all reported to Dai Hanbiao by people below.
Regardless of whether the next step is to continue to promote the door knocker system, he feels it is necessary to make Cao Yang aware of these issues.
"Yangcheng Huaqiang Factory just needs to introduce a new hot stamping production line. When the time comes, it will just use a 1,200-ton press."
“For Nanshan Equipment, it’s not a problem at all.”
"Although there are difficulties in mold processing, Nanshan Mold can definitely find a solution."
“What everyone needs to do is to find solutions to problems when they encounter them.”
Cao Yang's attitude was as firm as ever.
In this regard, Dai Hanbiao naturally no longer struggled with the issue of hot stamping of integrated door rings.
However, he raised two confusing matters in succession. Cao Yang took the initiative to ask a new question without waiting for him to ask the third question.
"The main color of our Xingchen 2 will be white with a black suspended roof."
"This requires the A-pillar, B-pillar and C-pillar and other pillar decorative parts to be designed in high-gloss piano black color, so that the effect will be better."
"How are you considering implementing this now?"
Cao Yang was deeply impressed by the high-gloss piano black interior and exterior decorations, which were used in many models of later generations.
But in 2005, this process was not used that much.
"For this kind of parts, the mainstream method is to use piano paint, color paint and topcoat, which not only achieves the decorative effect of the appearance, but also protects the parts and reduces damage from light and scratches."
"However, the yield rate of piano paint parts is low and the cost is high."
"We need to work with surface treatment outsourcing manufacturers to review how to improve the yield rate, otherwise the cost will be more than double that of ordinary injection molded parts."
Nanshan Auto Parts does not make general stamping and injection molded parts, but purchases them from suppliers.
But for some parts with special craftsmanship, we will definitely consider putting them into factories to produce them ourselves.
On the one hand, there are no ready-made suppliers available outside, and on the other hand, it is also due to comprehensive considerations such as quality, cost, and schedule.
"People generally believe that black is rich in connotation, deep, and atmospheric, while still having a youthful and sporty flavor."
"Whether it's the suspended roof or the high-gloss piano black trim in parts of the car, it can add a dreamy luxury to the atmosphere inside the entire car, and it can be regarded as the finishing touch of the interior and exterior design."
"In the future, each of our models, whether it is exterior or interior parts, will definitely have many high-gloss piano black parts."
"Although there is no big problem with the process plan you mentioned, I think some better plans can be considered."
If there is good craftsmanship, Cao Yang will naturally propose it.
Otherwise, it would probably take several years for employees to figure it out on their own.
"Mr. Cao, what kind of better process plan do you mean specifically?"
Dai Hanbiao also looked at Cao Yang curiously.
If the craftsmanship can be improved, he will naturally be happy to see the results.
Otherwise, it is expensive and has a high rate of defective quality, which is also a troublesome matter.
"Using spray-free plastic, that is, one-time injection molding can achieve a black and bright effect, which reduces the process and reduces pollution."
"I heard before that BASF is developing such a resin material. As long as the composition and performance of the material meet the requirements, parts with a high-end piano black effect can be directly produced through injection molds."
“In this way, the cost of parts is reduced, the yield rate is greatly improved, and the environmental pollution is reduced.”
"The key is the formula of this material and how we study it ourselves."
"In addition to researchers working on special steel, there are also professionals engaged in resin material research at the group's research institute."
"You can communicate with them and see if we can develop materials that meet the requirements."
Naturally, Cao Yang could directly take out the formula of the materials.
However, that seemed rather abrupt, so he planned to let the research institute do it first, and finally "tried" by chance and came up with this qualified material.
For example, Kumho Rili's spray-free PC (polycarbonate)/ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) plastic alloy-K8252 is this type of material.
"Mr. Cao, there is definitely no problem with this direction, and it is also very promising."
"But the research and development of basic materials is sometimes very mysterious."
“When you are not lucky, you may try for several years but still not find a material ratio that meets the requirements.”
“If you’re lucky, you may find just the right material within a few weeks.”
"From the actual situation, conducting basic materials research requires investing a lot of manpower and material resources, and only after various trials and errors can we have a chance to achieve results."
"I'm a little worried about whether I can keep up with the schedule if I develop it myself."
Dai Hanbiao's words were quite objective.
The reason why the materials major is regarded by many as a sinkhole major is because in order to achieve results in the field of materials, a large amount of manpower and material resources must be invested in various experiments.
If the investment of manpower and material resources will surely produce results, then many companies will be willing to take risks.
The key is that many times you invest a lot of manpower and material resources, but in the end you still can't find a formula that meets the requirements.
Some companies even cannot survive directly because of this willingness.
In this case, naturally few companies are willing to invest too much money in basic material research.
Correspondingly, the employment of people who specialize in materials is not that good.
Of course, this is not absolute.
For example, around 2022, if you specialize in battery-related materials, employment will be very good.
"Mr. Dai, your concern is reasonable, but we cannot stop doing research and development just because of this concern."
"Of course, we can also take two steps. On the one hand, we can conduct research and development ourselves, and on the other hand, we can cooperate with companies such as BASF."
Cao Yang did not directly refute Dai Hanbiao's views. After all, what he said was true.
However, the research and development that should be done must still be done.
After all, he knew that results would eventually come out.
"Mr. Cao, we now have our own special steel factory. If we study resin materials ourselves in the future, does the group intend to invest in factories in this field?"
Dai Hanbiao couldn't help but express the questions in his heart.
Those who engage in auto parts must purchase some raw materials from outside. Otherwise, how will the parts be produced?
Special steel and resin materials are the two most commonly used raw materials.
"Of course, there is no need to produce ordinary resin materials by ourselves, and there is no need to invest in a special factory."
"But if we don't produce some modified resins or high-performance PA materials ourselves, they will be completely controlled by a few material giants such as BASF."
"This is definitely not a situation we want to see, so in the future the group can consider purchasing ordinary PP/PE and other materials from outside and then processing them into the special modified materials we need."
"In this way, the investment in the factory does not need to be large, the impact on the environment is relatively limited, and there will be no serious environmental problems."
When Cao Yang explained this, Dai Hanbiao understood immediately.
Just like various companies under the Nanshan Group, they will use some basic materials such as cast iron and aluminum ingots. There is definitely no need to produce them themselves.
But some high-performance special steels are best kept in your own hands.
The situation with resin materials is similar.
"If you need to build your own factory, even if it's just some reprocessing factories, the production cycle will take at least more than a year."
"You are right. We need to consider mid- to long-term planning in advance."
Cao Yang feels that the current development pace of the entire Nanshan Group is a bit like a hammer in one direction and a stick in the other.
It is necessary to plan carefully so that subsequent development can be more rhythmic and planned.
(End of chapter)
