The stainless steel body of Tesla’s Cybertruck is reportedly leading to issues with gaps in between the panels::The Cybertruck’s steel is made in “coils that resemble giant rolls of toilet paper,” WSJ reported.

  • @Death_Equity@lemmy.world
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    2311 months ago

    If they were smart, they would pursue nitinol body panels or a similar memory metal. Get a ding in a panel? Take a heat gun to it or leave it out in the sun and the dent is gone. Another benefit would be a ~25% weight reduction.

    All they would have to do is figure how to make large panels; which is no easy task, but neither is rocket science. The patent licensing could be a major revenue stream.

    • @CmdrShepard
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      111 months ago

      Isn’t this what Saturn did or is nitinol some sort of metal alloy?

      • @KevonLooney@lemm.ee
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        211 months ago

        Nitinol is an alloy of 60% nickel and 40% titanium (usually). It can be used in memory materials or to capture energy from heat. Basically it can be bent when it’s below a certain temperature (like a regular metal) and it creates force to restore its shape when it’s heated.

        Yes, I did learn that by playing modded Factorio. Why do you ask?