CAMX 2022 exhibit preview: Symmetrix Composite Tooling

Symmetrix Composite Tooling (Bristol, R.I., U.S.) is a full-service composite tooling manufacturer for cost-effective, accurate tooling with complex and innovative designs. Priding itself on precision and quality, the company serves industries such as aerospace, art and architecture, infrastructure, marine, transportation and wind energy. Symmetrix also has the capacity and capabilities to undertake a wide variety of projects.

According to JB Barnitt, president of Symmetrix, the company achieves sub-millimeter accuracy through subtractive shaping methods in low-shrink materials that don’t absorb moisture. Its molds are adequately supported, vacuum-tight geometries that can support closed molded resin infusion. Production tooling or limited-use prototype tooling is optimized for the client’s preferred processing method at ambient- or elevated-cure temperatures.

Symmetrix has three facilities across the U.S. in Bristol, Rhode Island, Statesville, North Carolina and its new facility in Minden, Nevada. All three plants have equipment and process parity and give Symmetrix the ability to optimize geographic locations and lead times.

Capabilities include:

• Patterns, plugs, masters, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) production tooling and direct machined tooling.
• Room-temperature tooling to 400ºF.
• Accuracy ± 0.127 mm (0.005").
• Full metrology reporting.
• Coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) backing structures.
• Vacuum integrity testing with time-lapse photography.
• AWS-certified welding.

Symmetrix Composite Tooling also cites its available equipment:

• Three large-forma five-axis CNC machining centers (84' x 20' x 10').
• One fully enclosed five-axis machining center (20' x 6' x 4').
• Two extra-large climate-controlled paint booths.
• One large climate-controlled paint booth (52' x 22' x 16').
• One large post-cure oven (20' x 20' x 9').

The company’s CMS Poseidon machines, however, are said to be the centerpiece of all three 40,000-square-foot facilities. Symmetrix says it is fully optimized for precision machining of advanced composite materials. The Poseidon machines are certified to an overall volumetric tolerance of 0.1 mm or 0.004".  The Poseidon milling centers (with a 83' x 20' work envelope) are made specifically for large-format machining projects, without compromising rigidity or stability.