Formula 1 team adopts Roboze 3D printed composites

The Visa Cash App RB Formula 1 team has entered into a technical partnership with Roboze (Bari, Italy) to produce end-use parts for its single-seaters with the aim to reduce weight and create parts with geometries that are impossible with other techniques.

Roboze is known for its 3D printing of high-performance composite materials that are capable of replacing metal components. This collaboration is said to mark the beginning of a new chapter in the use of advanced materials for the production of critical components for racing vehicles.

The team has already been implementing and integrating Roboze technology in the development of its single-seaters for several months and will continue to use it throughout the season. The goal is to produce parts that are difficult or impossible to make with other production methods due to highly complex geometries, made possible by the Italian company's additive manufacturing (AM) technique for composites. 

Among various products offered by Roboze, carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has been chosen for its thermal and mechanical resistance characteristics. The material will enable the Visa Cash App RB F1 team to achieve significant weight reductions, improvements in aerodynamic efficiency and an increase in the structural strength of the cars.

“This partnership represents a significant step forward in our mission to push the boundaries of 3D printing technology, bringing our advanced materials like carbon [fiber] PEEK directly to the Formula 1 tracks,” says Alessio Lorusso, Roboze CEO. “It’s a unique opportunity to demonstrate how our solutions can help redefine performance and efficiency parameters in motorsport.”

The team says that adopting Roboze’s 3D printing technologies will transform the way it designs and produces critical components for its cars. “The ability to use materials like carbon [fiber] PEEK allows us not only to optimize the weight and strength of our vehicles but also to significantly accelerate our development and innovation cycles, keeping us one step ahead of the competition,” says Stefano Natali, Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team director of production. “This partnership is a cornerstone of our strategy to stay at the forefront of the world championship.”