What is the Side Panel Assembly?
1 Answers
Side panels can generally be divided into the side outer panel assembly and the side inner panel assembly. If the side outer panel is not divided into front and rear sections, it includes the A-pillar, B-pillar, C-pillar, and rear quarter panel. The four major processes in automobile manufacturing are stamping, welding, painting, and assembly. In the design process of body components, stamping comes first: ① Focus on Class-A surface design, primarily concerning the mold. A high-quality Class-A surface determines the mold quality, ensuring a good product for subsequent processes after the body comes off the line. ② Pay attention to draft angles during design to avoid undercuts and consider mold opening techniques. Main structures include: floor, left and right side panels, four doors (left/right front/rear doors), two covers (engine hood and trunk lid), left/right front fenders, roof panel, engine compartment, and subframe. These are the main sub-assemblies in the body-in-white welding process. There are numerous sheet metal parts in the body, such as various brackets and reinforcement plates, which won't be detailed here. An assembly refers to the combination of a component and its associated parts. For example, a fuel filler cap includes the cap body and lock cylinder—replacing the entire component is called a fuel filler cap assembly. A window regulator consists of a motor and bracket, and typically, neither the motor nor the bracket is replaced separately; instead, the entire window regulator assembly is replaced. This is also a way for repair shops to increase revenue, as they can keep the good parts. The automotive powertrain includes the engine and transmission.
