304 stainless steel piece received. Taking partial delivery of Cybertruck/ Mobsters are threatening to return Cybertruck piece by piece

[Mini2nut]

I read where Tesla will receive stainless steel from Steel Dynamics in Sinton, TX and treat it when it arrives to Austin.

From Teslarati;

“Interestingly enough, Tesla has stated in the past that the steel which would be used for the Cybertruck would have some unique touches. Judge Krebs’ previous statements about Steel Dynamics’ TX Plant hinted at this, as he noted that Tesla would be “redoing” the steel from the Sinton plant to create its all-electric pickup. This suggests that Tesla is being particularly careful about the Cybertruck’s secrets, especially those that involve the vehicle’s exoskeleton and body”

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[jhogan2424]

I read where Tesla will receive stainless steel from Steel Dynamics in Sinton, TX and treat it when it arrives to Austin.

From Teslarati;

“Interestingly enough, Tesla has stated in the past that the steel which would be used for the Cybertruck would have some unique touches. Judge Krebs’ previous statements about Steel Dynamics’ TX Plant hinted at this, as he noted that Tesla would be “redoing” the steel from the Sinton plant to create its all-electric pickup. This suggests that Tesla is being particularly careful about the Cybertruck’s secrets, especially those that involve the vehicle’s exoskeleton and body”

Yes I heard very similar in a video today. Makes me think Tesla is going to make sure it’s top notch stainless.

 

[firsttruck]

I read where Tesla will receive stainless steel from Steel Dynamics in Sinton, TX and treat it when it arrives to Austin.

From Teslarati;

“Interestingly enough, Tesla has stated in the past that the steel which would be used for the Cybertruck would have some unique touches. Judge Krebs’ previous statements about Steel Dynamics’ TX Plant hinted at this, as he noted that Tesla would be “redoing” the steel from the Sinton plant to create its all-electric pickup. This suggests that Tesla is being particularly careful about the Cybertruck’s secrets, especially those that involve the vehicle’s exoskeleton and body”

"redoing" could be the cold-rolling of NON-cold-rolled stainless steel.

Maybe Tesla Austin will receive NON-cold-rolled stainless steel as giant spools, then Austin plant takes the spools of NON-cold-rolled, cold rolls the steel into continuous flat ribbon of cold-rolled stainless steel, then cuts the steel ribbon into Cybertruck sized flat sheets of cold-rolled stainless steel.

 

[ricinro]

"redoing" could be the cold-rolling of NON-cold-rolled stainless steel.

Maybe Tesla Austin will receive NON-cold-rolled stainless steel as giant spools, then Austin plant takes the spools of NON-cold-rolled, cold rolls the steel into continuous flat ribbon of cold-rolled stainless steel, then cuts the steel ribbon into Cybertruck sized flat sheets of cold-rolled stainless steel.

A flat blank for the body or body components are likely too wide to ship. So will the mill ship extra wide coils (annealed) and then have the rollers at Austin to flatten and cold work? Perhaps they will also have the graining processes, passivating and perhaps electrofinishing to remove the surface Iron (reduces rust staining)

 

[FutureBoy]

You know you won't be able to resist those long straight Fla roads.......

I'm thinking the alligators on alligator alley better be ready to run.

 

[Bill906]

...and then have the rollers at Austin to flatten and cold work?

Wasn't one of the main reasons to go with stainless steel to cut the cost and factory floor space needed to paint it? Wouldn't adding steel processing equipment negate those savings?

 

[LDRHAWKE]

A flat blank for the body or body components are likely too wide to ship. So will the mill ship extra wide coils (annealed) and then have the rollers at Austin to flatten and cold work? Perhaps they will also have the graining processes, passivating and perhaps electrofinishing to remove the surface Iron (reduces rust staining)

The problem with passivating and electro finishing is time and space required. Probably as bad as painting. Getting closer to 316 and 317 higher molybdenum content for better corrosion resistance is more expensive but may reduce the need for additional processing.like passivating which could take 2hours of submerging in acid baths. They are well aware of all of this and a new type of stainless may be coming for the CT.

 

[John K]

Wasn't one of the main reasons to go with stainless steel to cut the cost and factory floor space needed to paint it? Wouldn't adding steel processing equipment negate those savings?

Not so much space but, time and cost to paint the colors offered.

 

[firsttruck]

Wasn't one of the main reasons to go with stainless steel to cut the cost and factory floor space needed to paint it? Wouldn't adding steel processing equipment negate those savings?

Space is not the biggest issues with paint shop.
The biggest issues are
Time to dry which drastically slows production
cleanliness of environment & painted surface needed to get quality paint job.
air & water pollution

Doing cold rolling at Austin is very fast compared to painting.

 

[Crissa]

The problem with passivating and electro finishing is time and space required. ...

Stamped, welded metal also needs to be dip finished before final assembly. That's why it's body in white, not body in raw metal. It's even more steps and air control to make a nice paint finish.

-Crissa

 

[ricinro]

Wasn't one of the main reasons to go with stainless steel to cut the cost and factory floor space needed to paint it? Wouldn't adding steel processing equipment negate those savings?

I think I assumed that the entire outside surface was going to be origami. Upon reviewing photos I now have changed my thinking.

The CT appears to use multiple external "cosmetic" panels attached to stamped internal framing. This body will attach to the castings/structural battery.

So this means that the flat, half hard, 30x sheets could be shipped.

 

[firsttruck]

The CT appears to use multiple external "cosmetic" panels attached to stamped internal framing. This body will attach to the castings/structural battery.

The Cybertruck external panels are not "cosmetic".

The exterior panels form a structural exoskeleton. That is why the panels are 3mm thick instead of the more standard 1 mm or less. You would not use 3mm cold rolled stainless steel for "cosmetic".

You still need some steel to form interior space and that is the curved stuff you see in the pictures. The interior space might be thin stamped steel.

Sandy Munro has video where he talks about the Cybertruck 3mm cold rolled stainless steel exoskeleton + structural battery + front/rear aluminum casting and how it should allow Cybertruck to be stronger than F-150 but weigh less than F-150.

 

[Cyberman]

The Cybertruck external panels are not "cosmetic".

The exterior panels form a structural exoskeleton. That is why the panels are 3mm thick instead of the more standard 1 mm or less.

You still need some steel to form interior space and that is the curved stuff you see in the pictures. The interior space might be thin stamped steel.

Sandy Munro has video where he talks about the Cybertruck 3mm cold rolled stainless steel exoskelton and how it should allow Cybertruck to be stronger than F-150 but weigh less than F-150.

Actually, I think the external panels are cosmetic and structural at the same time. Cosmetic, because it's beautiful, structural, because it's part of the exo.

 

[ricinro]

The Cybertruck external panels are not "cosmetic".

The exterior panels form a structural exoskeleton. That is why the panels are 3mm thick instead of the more standard 1 mm or less. You would not use 3mm cold rolled stainless steel for "cosmetic".

You still need some steel to form interior space and that is the curved stuff you see in the pictures. The interior space might be thin stamped steel.

Sandy Munro has video where he talks about the Cybertruck 3mm cold rolled stainless steel exoskeleton + structural battery + front/rear aluminum casting and how it should allow Cybertruck to be stronger than F-150 but weigh less than F-150.

I agree that the dozen or so exterior panels are both cosmetic and structural but structurally they are attached to an internally stamped/welded frame as we have seen in that Tesla photo.

What does NOT appear to be the case is that the skin of the CT is one folded "origami" piece of 3-4mm SS.
There are front and rear quarter panels, 4 door panels, trim above doors, hood, front bumper (one-3 pieces?), rear gate (multiple pieces) and a vault assembly (multiple pieces). None of these pieces appear to have any bends greater than ~30 degrees.

 

[Crissa]

What does NOT appear to be the case is that the skin of the CT is one folded "origami" piece of 3-4mm SS.
There are front and rear quarter panels, 4 door panels, trim above doors, hood, front bumper (one-3 pieces?), rear gate (multiple pieces) and a vault assembly (multiple pieces). None of these pieces appear to have any bends greater than ~30 degrees.

The panels have to attach to the rest of them, and that's probably where the tighter folds are.

It'll be interesting to see where they are; the edges could be folded over to provide tube shapes to mount hinges and each other to.

-Crissa

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