New Model Y Casting Machine

[rnh415M3]

Does any one think that panel alignments or general quality of Model Y builds will improve with the use of this new casting machine? I know it wont do do much for paint quality..... Anyone going to defer their delivery further to ensure they have a single casted rear body or are you indifferent? This makes me nervous about rear quarter panel accidents. Does this effectively deem your vehicle totaled in a regular fender bender?

Tesla readies Model Y Giga Press for next-level production efficiency

 

[glide]

Does any one think that panel alignments or general quality of Model Y builds will improve with the use of this new casting machine? I know it wont do do much for paint quality..... Anyone going to defer their delivery further to ensure they have a single casted rear body or are you indifferent? This makes me nervous about rear quarter panel accidents. Does this effectively deem your vehicle totaled in a regular fender bender?

Tesla readies Model Y Giga Press for next-level production efficiency

Nope. Can’t imagine it will have much of an impact on panel gaps.

and yes it could be easier for the vehicle to be totaled in an accident.

 

[gaswalla]

I also worry about the costs for repairs in an accident... no one is going to get that large casted piece as a replacement part if it is damaged.. hence, the car would be a total loss? Not sure this makes long term sense. Definitely smart on the production side, but down the line?

 

[ThomasD]

What is the cure time for each mold ? How will they eliminate the cast flashings?

 

[MP3Mike]

What is the cure time for each mold ? How will they eliminate the cast flashings?

I think with the two part casting they said they went through a CNC step, but with the new one-part casting that would no longer be necessary, it would come out ready to use.

 

[mcorf]

When they get this machine up and running, will they stop making it the current way or will they use both methods to increase production ?

 

[ThomasD]

Is this going to be used for just the structural section? Or does it include the structure with the quarter panels If it includes the entire rear section then getting sheetmetal pieces for repair of damaged parts will no longer exist If that is the case these cars will be worth nothing on the used car market Or people will just drive around with damaged cars Someone needs to ask Musk if these cars will be repairable

 

[MP3Mike]

Is this going to be used for just the structural section? Or does it include the structure with the quarter panels If it includes the entire rear section then getting sheetmetal pieces for repair of damaged parts will no longer exist If that is the case these cars will be worth nothing on the used car market Or people will just drive around with damaged cars Someone needs to ask Musk if these cars will be repairable

It is just the frame/sub-frame. The body panels/skin are still attached. In theory it makes repair easier as there is one part to replace instead of ~100 that are welded/glued/riveted together. Of course you have to tear the car down quite a bit to replace it...

Elon mentioned that now being in the insurance business has lead them to make design changes to make cars more repairable...

 

[captanzuelo]

Elon mentioned that now being in the insurance business has lead them to make design changes to make cars more repairable...

Well hopefully they will lower their premiums to reflect that. They quoted 50% higher than Geico, here in CA

 

[MrTemple]

Does any one think that panel alignments or general quality of Model Y builds will improve with the use of this new casting machine?

Almost certainly. Though it doesn't *need* this new singular body piece to address those gaps. But with Tesla's imperfect assembly methods it will help eliminate a source of error.

As Sandy Munro said, it's all about the frame and where the holes are drilled.

When you've got several pieces of the frame joined together, each join will have a tolerance. Add a couple of those together, couple that with bad tooling in drilling the holes (your 'jigs' are critical in this kind of work), and you've got a case where very, VERY small variances can mean pieces will be several millimetres out over the length of a door/hood/hatch panel.

Of course, they could simply up their referencing game when drilling the holes in the pieces (spacing and alignment guides, etc) and resolve many of these issues without needing the unibody piece.

Not having that consistency in referencing where to drill the holes though means that all the other compounding tolerances directly affect the panels bolted onto the frame.