CW Blog
Composites at AeroDef 2018
Highlights from the Aerospace Defense Manufacturing Conference – AeroDef 2018 include new technologies for tooling, drilling/machining and inspection of advanced composites.
WatchContinuous fiber TPCs are smart for world’s largest appliance manufacturer
Unveiled on March 8 at the China Household Electrical Appliances and Consumer Electronics Fair (AWE, Shangai), Haier’s (Qingdao, China) “smart” Tianxi air conditioner is the world’s first AC unit to feature continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) materials. in its high-end Casarte line (Italian “Casa” for home and “Arte” for art), The relationship holds much promise for CFRTP supplier Covestro (Leverkeusen, Germany; Pittsburgh, PA, US; Shanghai, China). The world’s number one appliance manufacturer, Haier’s products can alread be found in 1 million households.
Read MoreAirborne, Siemens, SABIC partner for TPC mass production
Having acquired Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastics B.V. (FRT, Lelystad, Netherlands) in 2016, SABIC was looking for a partner to produce large quantities of thermoplastic composite parts (using its UDMAX tapes, of course) at a radically lower cost. “We have been doing this type of work for a variety of industries,” says Arno van Mourik, founder and director of Airborne (The Hague, The Netherlands). His company is the leading manufacturer of thermoplastic composite pipe for oil and gas. “We have developed software and an industrialized process that now produces 40-50 tonnes of continuous product in one go without touch labor.” In 2015, Airborne built the Digital Factory Composites Field Lab with partners Siemens (Plano, TX, US) and KUKA Robotics (Augsburg, Germany) to pursue digitalization of composites processes.
Read MoreWhat an acquisition tells us about our industry’s future
The aerospace composites supply chain is diligently assessing its ability to meet the needs of those who will build next-generation aircraft.
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PEEK or PEKK in future TPC aerostructures?
Which is better for in-situ consolidated thermoplastic composite primary structures? Materials play a part as to whether a one-step or two-step process will prevail.
Read MoreThermoplastic composites: Past the tipping point?
The manufacturing world watched a decade ago as automatically placed thermoset composite tapes replaced aluminum in commercial airframes and made composites a household word in markets around the world. Has the time come for thermoplastic composite tapes to make a similar impact?
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Gripping composite test specimens: Options and guidance
Orthotropic behavior of composites test specimens makes load introduction uniquely challenging.
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The US composites industry’s rally continues in February
The February Composites Fabricating Index was at 59.6
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New board makes windsurfing available to all
Making the windsurfing sport available to all
Read MorePredicting advanced composites use in launches to the moon, Mars
Irrespective of what launch vehicles provide transport for colonization efforts to the Moon or Mars, advanced composites are sure to play an enabling role.
Read MoreData infrastructure in composites manufacturing: A growing need
As more automation enters the fabrication process for composites, new data infrastructure is required to guide that automation.
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Biomimicry in 3D printing?
New rotational 3D printing method developed by Harvard researchers allows engineered composites to mimic nature.
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