• untorquer@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    Is the entire frame just cast aluminum!? It legitimately looks like he had his rocket engineers build this one.

    You can’t get more disparate inspection/maintenance schedules than aerospace vs. Automotive.

    • lemming741@lemmy.world
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      21 hours ago

      They’re all-in on these large monolithic aluminum castings. He has branded it giga casting. I’ve always assumed it was to make them non-repairable.

      • untorquer@lemmy.world
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        21 hours ago

        Well you can engineer a fatigue life with aluminum so if your goal is to prevent a second hand market and promote car as a service it’s one way to go.

        E: I’m aware of the software and other subscription stuff they do.

    • pi3r8@lemmy.world
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      23 hours ago

      I read the biography of him and yes, it’s molded in one piece (or was at the time of the book from memory) it was inspired by the bottom of a toy car. The issue of water ingress was apparently brought up but he didn’t think it would be an issue.

      • untorquer@lemmy.world
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        22 hours ago

        I doubt there was significant concern for fretting/fatigue here. These frames look like they’re almost intended to last only 5yr.

      • Randelung@lemmy.world
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        23 hours ago

        We’ve mastered reusable rocketry, can’t we apply those findings to the automotive industry? There must be a better way.

      • untorquer@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        I mean if they do make it more than 5mi off the lot, they wouldn’t survive more than a winter or two where they salt the roads.