ATL/AFP

Aerospace

EU-funded GENEX project to develop digital twin framework for aircraft lifecycle tracking

Novel digital framework to enable holistic and comprehensive data capture through the entire aircraft lifecycle, supporting composite component/structure manufacture optimization and maintenance.  

Grace Nehls
Managing Editor, CompositesWorld

ATL/AFP

Cannon Tipos, Coriolis Composites mold complex automotive structural part from single preform

Dosing equipment for precise injection and mold engineering enable near-net-shape dry preform for HP-RTM CFRP composite part with rapid cycle time.  

Carbon Fibers

Cygnet Texkimp builds high-precision slitter spooler rewinder for industry trials

Demonstration machine can precisely slit and wind up to 48 tapes from continuous thermoset UD carbon fiber prepreg, with additional material compatibilities.  

ATL/AFP

Drawing design cues from nature: Designing for biomimetic composites, Part 1

Biomimicry is an interdisciplinary methodology that can inform composites design and manufacturing via use of more effective and sustainable materials, structural fabrication and technological practices.    
#feature #biomaterials

Fabrics/Preforms

Tri-Mack introduces thin, lightweight thermoplastic composite enclosures

Durable, low-cost manufacturing support wide range of industrial uses, with option for embedded EMI shielding.  
#pei #paek #peek

Electroimpact AFP head carbon fiber placement

Evolving AFP for the next generation

‘Aerospace quality at automotive pace’ is the mantra of the supply chain being developed for next-generation commercial aircraft. Automation is evolving to meet the challenge.
#airbus #boeing #787

Want The Basics?
START HERE

Videos / Podcasts

Aerospace

Plant tour: ÉireComposites, Galway, Ireland

An in-house testing business and R&D focus has led to innovative materials use and projects in a range of markets, from civil aerospace to renewable energy to marine.
#planttour #space #windblades

Prepregs

SuCoHS project: Advancing composite solutions for parts with high thermal and mechanical loads

New materials, structural concepts and manufacturing using sensors for composites that resist fire, temperature and loads while providing weight and cost savings versus metals.
#sensors #trends

ATL/AFP

AFP-XS platform demonstrates rectangular tube manufacture

Addcomposites collaborated with MBDA and Compositadour to produce lightweight, stiff and weatherproof components that are electrically insulating, chemically resistant and dimensionally stable.

ATL/AFP

Addcomposites adds tape winding to Finland facility for pilot trials

The new capability, which enhances the available level of design freedom, was added to encourage manufacturers to develop new innovations using tape winding.

Aerospace

Hengshen to produce rear pressure bulkhead demonstrators

China-based Hengshen Carbon and Composites will produce five 4.5-meter demonstrator composite rear pressure bulkheads (RPB) for a Chinese aerospace OEM.

Carbon Fibers

Rocket Lab unveils composite Neutron launch vehicle

Live streamed web event reveals detailed Neutron rocket architecture for the first time, including its carbon fiber launch vehicle and second stage, and new Archimedes rocket engine, all designed for reliability and reusability.
#trends #space

Thermoplastics

Fraunhofer IPT develops thermoplastic composites in hydrogen storage, engine blades and more

Active in laser-assisted tape winding and in-situ consolidation of thermoplastic composites since 1988, the IPT in Aachen, Germany continues to push new materials, applications and Composites 4.0 digital processing.
#composites4_0 #aeroengines #sustainability

Aerospace

Collins Aerospace demonstrates new thermoplastic composites capabilities

Collins Aerospace in Almere has produced a 7-meter raceway for the Clean Sky 2 MFFD lower fuselage using novel CCM and tooling technology while the Riverside facility in the U.S. advances AFP and welding as part of global strategy for more sustainable airframes.

ATL/AFP

NCC successfully demonstrates AFP manufacture of CMC parts

Core Research program adapts existing AFP technology and identifies optimal deposition parameters using a novel 3M towpreg material for wider CMC use.  
#ceramicmatrixcomposites #aeroengines

Aerospace

Coriolis Composites installs AFP machine at Sabanci University

C1 robot contributes to technology development at the Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Research and Application Center (SU IMC) in Istanbul.

ATL/AFP

Trelleborg launches low-friction thermoplastic composite bearing

The HiMod Advanced Composite Bearing Plus is a dual-layer bearing with a low-friction PEEK liner that doubles as an impermeable sealing surface, in addition to 50% less sliding friction, increased wear performance.  
#outofautoclave

ATL/AFP

Axiom partners with NIAR ATLAS for oxide-oxide CMC research

Partnership breaks cost and process scalability barriers through the development of oxide-oxide CMC prepreg using AFP technology.  
#ceramicmatrixcomposites

Defense

IAI marks aerostructure milestones with F-16, F-35 deliveries

Per its long-term contract to produce and deliver 811 pairs of composite F-35A aircraft wings, IAI has delivered 200 so far, with new deliveries made for F-16 aerostructures with the reopening of its assembly line.  

NEW PRODUCTS: ATL/AFP

CAMX Expo

CAMX 2022 exhibit preview: Composite Automation

Composite Automation is joined by Isojet Equipements and PCM/Lucas Industries, bringing solutions for every step of the composites manufacturing process to one booth.
#camx

ATL/AFP

CAMX 2022 exhibit preview: Mikrosam

Mikrosam presents automated, high-performance composites manufacturing equipment for filament winding, AFP/ATL, prepregs and towpregs, pressure vessels, slitting and rewinding.
#camx

ATL/AFP

CAMX 2022 exhibit preview: Engineering Technology Corp.

ETC exhibits turnkey composites equipment like laboratory-scale and multi-spindle automated winders, as well as a large-scale tape wrapping machine at its joint booth with Zoltek.  
#camx

ATL/AFP

CAMX 2022 exhibit preview: Heraeus Noblelight

Humm3 technology is a high power, safe, highly controllable broadband heat source for automated fiber placement, automated tape laying, filament winding and other composites applications.
#camx

ATL/AFP

CAMX 2022 exhibit preview: Qarbon Aerospace

Qarbon Aerospace exhibits its capabilities in manufacturing composite components and assemblies, highlighting its proficiencies in major assembly and systems integration, automated layup, hand layup, high-temp composites and core fabrication.
#space #camx #layup

Carbon Fibers

CAMX 2022 exhibit preview: Concordia Fibers

The development of commingled (blended) carbon fiber bears a wide range of reinforcement and thermoplastic fibers applications, including thermoplastic prepregs.
#camx