Manufacturing of bobsled runners

InnoBay is a project sponsored by the Bayerische Forschungsstiftung (a none-profit sponsor for research and development). Goal is the invention of a new bobsled. Involved in the project team are faculties of mechanical engineering and sport science of the Technische Universitaet Muenchen, industrial partners and the Bavarian Bobsled Association. The partners analyse different topics like the interaction between athletes and sports equipment, the aero dynamical behaviour of crew and bobsled as well as problems concerning production. The Institute of Machine Tools and Industrial Management (iwb) is responsible for the manufacturing of the runners. They are important parts of the bobsled, because they significantly determine the runtime. Due to their slender and complex geometry they are difficult to manufacture. During the project various criteria like the choice and order of the production processes or necessary clamping systems will be evaluated regarding their influence on the runtime. In combination with the results of other subprojects, dealing with material selection and geometry optimisation, new bobsled runners will be designed, manufactured and tested. This paper highlights the planned activities and presents first results.