“ GOLA / PATTI “
** CIVIC XI **
The new 11th generation Civic is already in production and will be for sale in US and Canada in next few weeks. If you want to know in depth about it you can read it here > https://www.pakwheels.com/blog/official-11th-generation-honda-civic-is-here/
With every new generation of a model, car companies try to improve the product and that can be in shape features, safety, options and more . Companies also try to improve , upgrade their manufacturing processes and overall fit , finish and aesthetics of the model.
Over the years, use of aluminum is increasing in auto industry because of its wide range of benefits . It has lesser weight comparing steel like in some cases 50% less in comparison to mild steel of the same size and application. Car companies can use thicker aluminum panel to resist dent , which in case of steel for same level of resistance will only increase weight.
Aluminum can also absorb higher crash energy and as far as car safety, the overall exterior shell can have larger crash zones. Aluminum is easier to mold into any required shape. Aluminum have high tensile strength and also more corrosion resistant comparing steel.
Beside using aluminum for body and frames , it is also used making suspension parts, engines and other components. Because it is lighter with density of around 1/3rd of that of steel , the overall weight of the vehicle can be reduced which can help improve in vehicle performance , fuel economy. It is also environmentally friendly, as 90% of aluminum in auto salvage can be recycled and re-used.
Beside the benefits, there are certain disadvantages. It is expensive comparing steel and that’s why car companies can’t use it extensively in the automotive industry and in other words, cant fully replace the steel. Yes most of premium high end vehicles do use it for their entire body shells. Even the world most popular and highest selling Pickup truck F-150, has entire exterior body made of high strength military grade aluminum. Other disadvantages includes special welding equipment and handling procedures at assembled line . Aluminum is also not easy or cheaper to repair and you can’t use typical methods of repairing dents , require specialized equipment and in many cases would require the replacement panel.
Although the 11th generation Civic is the evolution of the 10th , Honda did implement new technologies . The Civic XI will be the first Civic ever in history to have an ALUMINUM roof. And this means that a special assembly line procedure and equipment is integrated into the manufacturing process as a conventional spot welding tool will not work in case of Aluminum.
Normally in a typical conventional steel roofing, a spot welding method is implemented and there is a ditch where the roof meets the side panels. That is why for aesthetic reasons, you see a plastic molding along the length of the roof in your vehicle on each side. The only purpose of this “ GOLA” is to hide/cover the gap because of the manufacturing requirements or any minor blemishes.
In case of aluminum roof, it is not welded and in-fact it is BRAZED. The roof panels and side panels are filled with binding/ filler material and thus eliminate the ditch and results in much smoother surface and transitions. Unlike welding where the base materials are heated and joined, in case of brazing, the panels are not heated, thus results in much better fit and finish.
Unlike spot welding, brazing also joins the two panels in continuity , which provided better seam, rigidity and protection against dampness/ moisture . Use of brazing technology also helps in reduced work of finishing before the vehicle goes for the paint. The process is faster and also eliminates the plastic molding part from the supply chain.
All this is done using a very sophisticated laser guided multi axis robots and it’s not a MANUAL procedure . A very thin filler material around 1 to 3 millimeter is fed through the robot and a laser beam melts it on the tip and fill the gap between the two panels. The joining material solidifies and results is smooth joint. After the brazing procedure, another robot verify the quality of joint work with help of scanning to make sure the joints are filled properly.
So, you might NOT have noticed the elimination of “GOLA/ PATTI” on this upcoming 11th gen Civic and to us it might be a simple thing but in reality there are very high tech robots at work behind the scene, making sure a much sleeker, seamless roof line comes out.
This should also give you an idea that a model change is not that easy and quickly to implement. I hope Honda Atlas start working / investing on this new assembly line requirement for the 11th generation Civic so, we can see the replacement Civic well on time. I hope our robots don’t ruin this.
Next time you see a vehicle without the plastic molding on the edge of the roof, this is probably because a robotic brazing system is used. Brazing is of various kinds and technique , have various types of filler materials and can join dissimilar materials/ materials with different properties.
[ f-w @PakWheels.com]
( the robot at work in the clip is just to understand the process. The vehicle is not a Civic )
