Engineering Technology launches servo tensioner for filament winding

Filament winding and composite solutions manufacturer Engineering Technology Corp. (previously known as “Entec,” Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.), announced on July 7 the development of ST2, a compact servo tensioning creel for high-speed wet, dry and towpreg winding. The company says the primary goal of development of ST2 was to provide an accurate tensioner that has a small number of contact points and the capability to maintain accuracy at high payout speeds. The company notes the ST2 was also developed to handle the high winding speeds achieved with the CXG filament winder, geared to the high-volume production of composite-overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs).

The system — tested with pitch carbon fiber, alumina fiber and others ranging from 1,000 to 50,000 filaments — is configured with guide rollers that keeps fuzz to a minimum and reduces stringer wrap-ups. Further, Engineering Technology says the ST2 can accommodate up to 16 9-inch (22.9-cm)-diameter bobbins in an 82-by-72-by-40-inch (208.3 by 182.8 by 101.6 cm) footprint and is customizable based on production-specific requirements.