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News from Across the Pond:
British American Machining
Story by Matt Bailey
Photos courtesy British American Racing |
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Norwich, Norfolk, UK –
Across
the decades, Formula One
motor racing has proved itself
voracious in its ability to consume
vast amounts of money, and merciless
in its propensity for destroying the
wills and ambitions of the most
determined of teams.
This has never been more so than today, when the
odds against a debutante team surviving just one season
in the world’s most demanding competitive environment
make winning the lottery look like a sure thing.
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Founding and establishing a state-of-the-art F1
racing team in such an industry is no mean feat. Doing
so almost overnight is surely playing dice with
providence. Problems will occur, and when they do the
results and repercussions are scrutinised by both the
public and the world’s media. There is nowhere to hide.
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British American Racing (BAR) is the
latest big spender in the Formula One
gaming hall. Backed by the considerable
resources of British American Tobacco
(BAT), the Northamptonshire-based
newcomer has, in just one year, recruited a
team of the industry’s brightest engineers
and designers, built a headquarters any of
the top teams would be proud of, enlisted
the services of Formula One and Indy car world
champion Jacques Villeneuve and made clear its
intentions to challenge for the number one place in both
the drivers and the constructors championships.
To achieve this will take nerves of steel and a
support operation better than anything the motor
racing world has seen thus far. Playing a pivotal role in
this support operation is one of the company’s key
acquisitions: A Haas VF-3 vertical machining centre.
Installed in late July 1998, the VF-3 has a special
place in the company’s behind-the-scenes activities.
Situated on the first floor of the R&D department,
directly above BAR’s brand-new wind tunnel, the Haas
VF-3 is currently being used to machine components for
1 / 2 -scale replicas of the race cars.
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British American Racing’s VF-3 vertical machining
centre is used extensively to machine components
for 1/2-scale replicas of the race car. The machine
is lodged in the R&D department directly above the
team’s brand-new wind tunnel. |
Graham Miller, operations manager, explains
BAR’s R&D rationale and the reason for purchasing the
Haas: “Reaction time in Formula One is critical. The
race cars develop at a tremendous rate, and we need to
be able to supply tried-and-tested components to the
team without unnecessary delay.” He continues,
“Previously, R&D would have to send one-half scale replicas
of the race car to the Reynard wind tunnel in
Indianapolis. Our investment in a new on-site
wind tunnel and the Haas VF-3 allows
us to develop and test new ideas
without the extensive lead time we had
previously. Now, lessons learned at one
race can be studied and incorporated
into designs in time for the next race.”
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Working predominantly in
titanium and aluminium, the VF-3,
fitted with an HRT 210 Haas rotary
table, is currently employed an average
40 hours a week to produce a wide
range of parts, including rear wing
endplates, front wings, wheel hubs and
suspension components.
Due to constantly varying surface
geometry, programs for machining the
aerofoil sections used for wing
components are typically large and
complex. BAR drip feeds these
programs to the VF-3 from a
Unigraphics CAD/CAM system.
Miller is pleased with his choice of
CNC machine. “We have close ties with
Reynard, and we know they get on very
well with their Haas machines. This was
obviously a factor when we were
looking for a machine.
“The VF-3 is a capable machine.
Rigid, good value and easy to use,” he
points out. “As the machine shop is
ramped up to run a double shift, so the
Haas will be required to keep up. I don’t
foresee this being a problem.” Given the
team’s plans, and the success of the first
machine, Miller suggests that
acquisition of a second Haas VMC is not
too far in the future.
| In the meantime, the glare of the
world’s media is, as always, focused on
the new kids on the block. Having made
such a huge and public investment, the
team’s backer, BAT, will be hungry for
its “first kill.”
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History breeds respect in Formula
One, a quality that BAR has in just the
right quantity. Where BAR differs from
previous newcomers is the ability to
recognise and utilise the best people
and technology, and to put both of
them to most effective use. Only time
will tell.
www.britishamericanracing.com
www.HaasCNC.com
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