The present invention relates to a dashboard support, and to a method for the production of a dashboard support.
The following discussion of related art is provided to assist the reader in understanding the advantages of the invention, and is not to be construed as an admission that this related art is prior art to this invention.
Modern motor vehicles have many driver assist systems as well as comfort and safety systems which are predominantly operated from the inside, in particular via the driver or passenger seats of a motor vehicle. Design features whether relating to the outer look or the interior space gain also increasingly on importance. For that reason, instrument panels, arranged in the motor vehicle between the front A-pillars beneath the windshield, are manufactured of plastic materials and sometimes covered with leather or other coating materials so as to receive a pleasing surface. To stiffen the instrument panel and to render it suitable for supporting various components, a dashboard support is arranged between the A-pillars. The dashboard support represents an elongate, rod-like structure having various mounting areas, for example, for steering column, airbags, glove compartment, heads-up display, navigation system and cable harness. Dashboard supports are typically coupled with the engine compartment rear bulk or the transmission tunnel for increase in stiffness.
Motor vehicle parts are normally manufactured using manipulators or industrial robots to maneuver the various body components. The various parts are hereby assembled by a multi-stage fully automated process, requiring the parts to be aligned relative to one another for subsequent joining by welding or bonding for example. The body components have openings for engagement by grippers of the manipulators or industrial robots for handling purposes. Dashboard supports are normally handled in the area of the mounting areas for movement and installation in the region of the A-pillars.
It would be desirable and advantageous to provide an improved method for the production of a dashboard support to obviate prior art shortcomings.