Monash students win Siemens 3D Challenge

Four Monash Univerity engineering students with a flair for motorsport engineering have taken first place in the national Siemens 3D Challenge at this year's Engineers Australia Convention.

For their efforts, Cam Warne, Andrew de Morton, Mark Stroud and Ed Hamer have won a 3DSystems Cube X 3D printer, which is valued at $3700 and capable of producing prototype parts for future engineering projects.

The team's winning design comprised an upright suspension component aimed at supporting the rotation of a wheel and hub, transmitting tyre forces to the wishbones of an open-wheel race car (also designed by the crew).

The complex yet lightweight part contained various components – including bearing housings for the spindle and mounts for the brake calliper, suspension wishbones and wheel-speed sensors – and was designed using state-of-the-art topology optimisation software.

The technology allows its operators to maximise the full elasticity of the available geometry and flexibility of design offered by 3D printing.

The component, meantime, will allow greater variability in steering geometry settings (if utilised) and, according to its makers, has benefits that extend beyond the realms of motorsport.

"It does have benefits in the real world by offering improvements in packaging, allowing more space for designers," said de Morton.

"We received assistance from the CSIRO, who helped us print it in titanium," said Stroud. "That meant the part was ready in two days, rather than a week using traditional manufacturing methods."

The team of four expressed interest in working for automotive and aeronautical engineering sectors once qualified. All agreed the competition allowed students to take full advantage of the growing opportunities 3D printing provides.