Conflux Technology has announced that its 3D-printed, configurable transmission oil cooler has completed a full-distance endurance race on a Multimatic-engineered car, in what the company described as a demonstration of reliability and performance under top-tier motorsport conditions.
In a media release, Conflux said the oil cooler was produced using its configurable core platform and manufactured in metal within two weeks.
The unit was selected and integrated by Multimatic Motorsports for an endurance application, with Conflux stating that the approach avoided the cost and time associated with a clean-sheet design.
According to Conflux, the transmission cooler used engine coolant to regulate gearbox oil temperatures within a shared water circuit.
In this configuration, the company reported that the unit delivered approximately 20 per cent higher heat rejection than the incumbent solution while maintaining the same packaging envelope.
Conflux said this provided additional thermal capacity without added space, weight or aerodynamic penalties.
“Endurance racing is the ultimate test for any cooling system,” Glenn Rees, Principal Engineer at Conflux Technology, said in the release.
“We’ve shown that our configurable, 3D-printed technology can move from design to race car in weeks, deliver significantly improved performance, and still be trusted to reach the finish line in some of the world’s toughest races.”
The company said the 3D-printed core incorporates optimised internal channels designed to increase heat transfer while managing pressure drop within a compact and lightweight structure.
Conflux stated that its configurable design platform enables engineers to adjust geometry to suit different gearboxes, layouts and duty cycles, with the aim of reducing non-recurring engineering costs and shortening development timelines.
Julian Sole, Design Manager at Multimatic Motorsports, said the unit met the team’s requirements over a full endurance race distance.
“At Multimatic we look for partners who can combine innovation with robust delivery,” Sole said. “The Conflux oil cooler, built from their configurable design and packaged efficiently in a very tight space, delivered the reliability we required over a full endurance race distance.”
Conflux said the endurance race result adds to its portfolio of supplying 3D-printed heat exchangers to motorsport and high-performance automotive programmes.
The company stated that the configurable oil cooler architecture is now available to other original equipment manufacturers and race teams seeking increased thermal capacity and improved packaging without a complete redesign of existing cooling systems.
