A 3D-printed, configurable transmission oil cooler developed by Conflux Technology has completed a full-distance endurance race in a car engineered by Multimatic Motorsports. Using Conflux’s configurable core platform, the transmission cooler was adapted to the programme’s specific boundary conditions and produced in just two weeks using metal additive manufacturing.
Multimatic Motorsports selected and integrated the unit for an endurance application, without the cost and delay of a clean-sheet design. The Conflux oil cooler used engine coolant to manage gearbox oil temperatures within a shared water circuit. In this endurance application, it delivered approximately 20% higher heat rejection than the incumbent solution within the same packaging envelope, providing additional thermal headroom without extra space, weight or aero penalty.
“Endurance racing is the ultimate test for any cooling system,” said Glenn Rees, principal engineer at Conflux Technology. “We’ve shown that our configurable, 3D-printed technology can move from design to race car in weeks, deliver significantly improved performance, and still be trusted to reach the finish line in some of the world’s toughest races.”
The 3D-printed core incorporates highly optimized internal channels to increase heat transfer while controlling pressure drop within a compact, lightweight envelope. Conflux’s configurable design platform enables engineers to rapidly tune geometry for different gearboxes, layouts and duty cycles, reducing non-recurring engineering costs and shortening program time-to-track, without compromising durability or consistency over long stints.
“At Multimatic, we look for partners who can combine innovation with robust delivery,” added Julian Sole, design manager at Multimatic Motorsports. “The Conflux oil cooler, built from their configurable design and packaged efficiently in a very tight space, delivered the reliability we required over a full endurance race distance.”
The same configurable oil cooler architecture is available to other OEMs and race operations seeking a step change in thermal capacity and packaging without a complete cooling-system redesign.
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