Materials & Manufacturing Process Selection - Case Study Example

The CES Edupack software is normally used to select the most suitable material for the brake disc. Several factors are considered when choosing a material for brake disc. These include the specific gravity of the material, thermal conductivity, wear resistance and the materials cost per unit volume. This research work focuses on the design of the brake disc and the entire brake assembly, the most commonly used material in the design and the calculations that are involved in the brake system. This research is supposed to sufficiently inform the King Swan Engineering Firm on the brake disc.

The Company may, therefore, use the knowledge derived from this report to improve on the current existing brake disc. The brake disc is a metallic wheel in a brake system against which the brake pad rub. As the pad is pushed against the disc, heat is generated. The disc should there have the capacity to withstand the heat due to friction. The function of the disc is to stop the vehicle when it comes into contact with the brake pads. The brake disc is connected to the vehicles tire by means of bolts and nuts.

The brake pads are normally pushed against the disc via the brake calipers. The brake discs are commonly made of grey cast irons. The cast iron, however, has some shortcomings such as high specific gravity and high heat conductivity. Application of brake discs is traced back to early 1890’s. The disc was first discovered by a scientist known as Fredrick William. The brake discs have better performance as compared to wheel drums. This is attributed to the fact that brake discs come with ventilation holes through which air circulates to the entire disc.

The brake disc is composed of a brake disc bolted to the axle or hub of the wheel hubs and the housing called calipers. The calipers. The calipers are connected to the axle casting in two parts. Each of the parts has a piston. In between the piston and the disc, there is a friction pad