"Like when engineers are designing a full-scale vehicle, we begin a project by doing the maths," says Zeno. "For example, with a new, self-locking differential, we work out the forces generated by the motor, and the desired power and torque output of the car, and we use these figures to create parts with the correct weight, dimensions, etc."
The final prototype parts are designed on a CAD system, then cut on the Haas machines. It's a thorough process, and the end results, if the numbers are good, are steel, titanium, and aluminium creations, many of which look like jewellery and are as precise as wristwatch components.
"We have lots of small parts, which we usually machine on the Super Mini Mill," says Zeno. "But, we also have parts such as the chassis floor, the plate on which everything else is mounted. It's almost 700 mm long, which is why we need the VF-3. In fact, the best size Haas machines for us now are the VF-2SS and the VF-3SS, as they give us plenty of table space, and the flexibility to make large or small parts. Production batches are typically around two hundred off, which we can machine in less than eight hours."
Once all the prototype parts are assembled into a complete vehicle, the testing phase begins.
"We build five working models for the race team," says Zeno. "Over the course of a year, we will refine the new car and fine tune it until we have something we're happy with, and that is as close as possible to the minimum weight of ten kilos."
In many ways, the world of large-scale model racing is very similar to the real racing world. "As well as providing cars and parts for customers, we have a race team," says Zeno: "Genius Racing! We've also built next door a two million Euro racetrack equipped with telemetry. We travel all over Europe and the rest of the world; there's a large following amongst the automotive companies. I have many friends at Ferrari, for example, and everyone takes it very seriously. Although, we have a lot of fun, too." After all, for most people, it is a pastime.
Except, that is, for Modeltek and its four employees. "We may be a small company, but we see some great opportunities, now that we've developed some good design and machining skills, including work with the Italian Air Force. That would be exciting, but at the moment, we have little time for anything except the model cars. It sometimes feels like we work twenty four hours a day!"
If you spend most of your waking hours in a business running CNC machine tools, life is sweeter if the machines are easy to use and you like them - a lot.
"I'm a little in love with the Haas brand and the Haas machines," confides Zeno Noacco. "They're affordable, easy to use, and reliable. In fact, I don't think we'd be running this business now if we hadn't discovered Haas."
End
Source: HaaS
