Quote:
Originally Posted by speed_BMW330i
I'm not much of a car guy, but when I read your comments on Ford, like any patriotic American (who was born in Mexico  ) I was compelled to post an article I read on Jalopnik.com in regards to plasma-transferred wire arc (PTWA).
The Ford Engine Technology Good Enough For The Nissan GT-R - Shelby GT500 - Jalopnik
It basically involves blowing a fine mist of molten steel at high speed onto a rough surface and then honing that surface into a perfect cylinder bore.
Apparently, Nissan was impressed enough with this technology that they obtained license from Ford to incorporate on its GTR.
I guess Ford still can compete on some levels.
Martin |
I wasn't saying anything against their ability, but it was directed against their priorities. Which is fine, but not my choice of product.
As for the real story behind your article, somebody knocked on their door and told them they could save more money:
Plasma Transferred Wire Arc Thermal Spray Apparatus and Method, also referred to as PTWA. Developed over a decade by Kowalsky, Daniel Marantz and David Cook, Ph.D. of Flame-Spray, and James Baughman, a Ford Motor Company retiree, it is a unique process that deposits a molten metal coating on the inside of a cylinder, such as a pipe. Flame-Spray collaborated with Ford to create the mechanism to be placed in automobile engines as a solution to the industry’s need to replace expensive cast-iron liners commonly used in engines. The process benefits both economic and environmental concerns, by removing the need for dense cast-iron engine liners.
When Flame-Spray introduced the concept of PTWA to Ford, they decided to experiment. “Ford at that time said, ‘We’ll give you an engine, why don’t you give it a shot?’” says Kowalsky. “We gave it a shot and they did some evaluation on it and said ‘Oh my God, this looks great.’”