McLaren ART process incorporating aerospace technology..What would be different
Mar 11, 2025
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The 'ART process' is a highly specialized vehicle manufacturing process system that takes the properties of carbon fiber, which is called the material of extreme steel, to the next level. This method stems from ultra-precise processes used in the real aerospace industry and has been used to customize jets, fighter jets, aircraft fuselages and wings with carbon fibers.
McLaren has developed a 'High Rate' version that performs this process more quickly, and this is the ART process. Instead of manually attaching pre-cut carbon fiber materials in advance, the robot arm (Arm) system stacks and completes structures by stacking composite tapes in layers. McLaren introduced the process to the McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) in Sheffield, England, further enhancing its manufacturing capacity.
The core of the 'ART process' is that it not only makes the McLaren vehicle for public use based on carbon fiber materials lighter and sturdier, but also contributes significantly to less waste by increasing the consistency between each individual part. Carbon fiber parts produced through the ART process are differentiated from existing parts of the same material.
First of all, the ART process enables sophisticated placement of carbon fiber materials compared to before, giving engineers greater discretion in vehicle design. The carbon material is concentrated in areas where the load is concentrated, such as joints or corners, to effectively support the load and reduce unnecessary material use in areas with relatively low stress.
In addition, carbon can be placed in the desired direction even in the same stacking structure, increasing rigidity, but helping innovative vehicle development by maintaining flexibility in different directions.
It is also effective in reducing production time and cost. Since the ART process is a method of placing dry composite tape of an already accurately measured length, it has a great effect of reducing the material of irregular shapes that cannot be reused. As a result, 95% of the raw materials of the dry composite tape can be used intact. The automation process also provides the advantage of preventing defective errors and reducing uncertain variables through real-time monitoring and control by placing parts at accurate target locations.
As shown in
, McLaren aims to establish a new standard for supercar engineering by maximizing production efficiency while further increasing the ultra-lightweight and stiffness of vehicles through the introduction of full-scale ART processes. Ultimately, the strategy is to expand and apply the ART process, the state-of-the-art manufacturing technology of the aerospace industry, and secure new leadership in supercar engineering.
Currently, McLaren's ART process was first applied to the W1 model. W1's active front wing assembly, which generates a downforce of up to 1,000 kg, was designed with an ART process and manufactured in a structure that is 10% firmer than the conventional method. In the future, we are considering applying the parts manufactured by this process to mass-produced W1.
Meanwhile, McLaren has been using carbon fiber in all directions as a key material for light weight, high performance, and structural rigidity for more than 40 years. As a result, it has established the standard for F1 racing cars and has led innovative technological development in the public road vehicle sector.
Editor Kim Tae-jin, tj.kim@carguy.kr
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
