CW Blog
ZAero project update
The 2019 final review demonstrated integration of an automated CFRP process chain: AFP inline inspection and rework, cure and resin flow sensors, part performance prediction and a decision support tool for line operators.
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Digital thread vs. digital twin
Visualizing the difference between digital representations and data flows and understanding the applications that are changing composites manufacturing and business models.
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A retrospective take on the composites industry and the pandemic
Dale Brosius reflects on recent composites industry trends and how they are impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
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Narrow UD tapes to bridge the ATL-AFP gap
Automated tape laying and automated fiber placement are similar, but not the same. Can narrow tapes provide a middle ground with advantages of both processes for next-gen aircraft?
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Composites 4.0: Where to start?
Sensors, IoT platforms, data analytics — the tools for more intelligent, efficient manufacturing abound, but where to start is actually much simpler.
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No business case for reteaching robots
DLR Center for Lightweight Production Technology has developed an AI-equipped work cell where collaborative robots can switch from producing composite rear pressure bulkheads to fuselage panels without requiring reprogramming or retraining.
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Flexure testing of sandwich composites
Dan Adams assesses the facesheet or core failures for three-point and four-points flexural loading configurations.
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Composites 4.0: Architecture and ontology
Adaptive systems, IoT platforms and apps, the need for 4.0 standardization and a new way to develop and certify composite aerostructures.
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Swinburne University and CSIRO's Industry 4.0 Testlab for Composite Additive Manufacturing
Australia and Germany collaborate to build Composites 4.0 production line for competitive advantage in next-gen manufacturing and workforce.
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Surface treatment for adhesive bonding: Thermoset vs. thermoplastic composites
According to BTG Labs, common surface treatment methods like abrasion and plasma treatment work best for different materials.
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Boron fiber: The original high-performance fiber
History and future developments for high-performance boron fiber.
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Composites-intensive masterwork: 2020 Corvette, Part 1
Eighth-generation vehicle sports more composites, and features parts produced using unique materials and processes.
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