Ginger Gardiner Senior Technical Editor

Aerospace 2 Sep 2013

Tailored Fiber Placement: Besting metal in volume production

Affordable automated production of highly optimized preforms and parts.

BMI 2 Sep 2013

Tooling up for larger launch vehicles

NASA and Janicki Industries demonstrate composites’ cost advantage in tooling for fabrication of 10m/33 ft diameter payload fairing for next-generation launch vehicle.

Pressure Vessels 31 Jul 2013

Modular design eases big wind blade build

First segmented composite blade increases power generation, eases installation and keeps weight and costs in check.

Wind/Energy 31 Jul 2013

Big blades, big innovations

In the process of designing its G128 wind turbine blade and the INNOBLADE segmented blade technology that simplifies its transport (see “Modular design eases big wind blade build,” under “Editor’s Picks,” at top right), Gamesa (Vizcaya, Spain) has introduced several innovative auxiliary technologies that reduce cost and simplify processing, particularly in the context of blade delivery and installation.

Autoclave 1 Jul 2013

Cutting the cost of integrated composite aerostructures

A unitized all-composite aircraft door concept is realized in one shot with no fasteners.

Wind/Energy 1 Jul 2013

Big machines, small tolerances

An examination of the lengths Janicki Industries (Sedro-Woolley, Wash.) goes to ensure dimensional precision in its massive CNC-machining operations.

Machining/Drilling 1 Jul 2013

Janicki Industries: Breaking the mold

Once known only as a toolmaker, Janicki offers unique precision, production capability and problem solving as it pioneers leading-edge composites technology.

Space 1 Jul 2013

Composites aid connectivity on commercial aircraft

General Dynamics’ triband radome helps LiveTV team overcome transmissivity challenges during development of in-flight broadband services.

Workforce Development 1 Apr 2013

Flow-front dynamics: Heat and vacuum hold

Three infusion experts talk about ways and means to avoid erratic flow fronts during resin infusion processes.

Wind/Energy 1 Apr 2013

Aiming infusion at the application

With so many process variables to play with, how do you know which new solutions that promise better, faster infusion are right for your application?

Space 1 Mar 2013

GPM mission: Better climate data

Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) is an international satellite mission designed to provide next-generation observations of rain and snow worldwide every three hours.

Aerospace 1 Mar 2013

Space mission maximized via minimized survivability

CFRP design and manufacturing flexibility prove key in first spacecraft fuel tank designed to disintegrate upon reentry for improved mission efficiency and debris mitigation.