• untorquer@lemmy.world
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    15 hours ago

    Is the entire frame just cast aluminum!? It legitimately looks like he had his rocket engineers build this one.

    You can’t get more disparate inspection/maintenance schedules than aerospace vs. Automotive.

    • lemming741@lemmy.world
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      9 hours ago

      They’re all-in on these large monolithic aluminum castings. He has branded it giga casting. I’ve always assumed it was to make them non-repairable.

      • untorquer@lemmy.world
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        9 hours ago

        Well you can engineer a fatigue life with aluminum so if your goal is to prevent a second hand market and promote car as a service it’s one way to go.

        E: I’m aware of the software and other subscription stuff they do.

        • fishy@lemmy.today
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          7 hours ago

          As an enthusiast, I would never own a second hand Tesla. They have terrible build quality and you just see too many rollers (major power train or battery issues). 10 year old cars mechanically totaled is the opposite of an eco friendly vehicle.

    • pi3r8@lemmy.world
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      11 hours ago

      I read the biography of him and yes, it’s molded in one piece (or was at the time of the book from memory) it was inspired by the bottom of a toy car. The issue of water ingress was apparently brought up but he didn’t think it would be an issue.

      • untorquer@lemmy.world
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        10 hours ago

        I doubt there was significant concern for fretting/fatigue here. These frames look like they’re almost intended to last only 5yr.

      • Randelung@lemmy.world
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        11 hours ago

        We’ve mastered reusable rocketry, can’t we apply those findings to the automotive industry? There must be a better way.

      • untorquer@lemmy.world
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        12 hours ago

        I mean if they do make it more than 5mi off the lot, they wouldn’t survive more than a winter or two where they salt the roads.