Processes
Formulating challenge: Creating better epoxies for vacuum-infused aerospace parts
More attention is being focused on fabricating processes for aircraft structures that can save time and money and improve efficiency while yielding high-quality parts. Historically, nearly all aircraft designers have assumed autoclave cure as the norm, despite the well-documented cost and time advantages of
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Focus on Design: The promise of rapid manufacturing
Selective Laser Sintering technology and new materials abbreviate the design phase and produce a key part for a new motorcycle racing engine.
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Inside Analysis: Simulating VARTM for better infusion
A resin flow simulation tool is helping to optimize liquid molding of aerospace parts.
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SMC Flexes Muscles in Other Markets
Often identified with automotive body applications, sheet molding compound shows growing promise in a variety of other temperature- and weather-resistant applications.
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Engineering Insights: Pedestrian Bridge Makes Case for Composites
Infusion molded deck incorporates high-performance core, which facilitates fast processing.
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Inside Manufacturing: Multiphase Process Forms Complex Shapes
Manufacturer adds extrusion and injection molding to thermoplastic pultrusion process to produce corrosion-resistant threaded rod.
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Robotic trimming radically shortens Corvette fender production cycle
Plasan USA (Bennington, Vt.) molds the Chevrolet Z06 Corvette’s front fenders with hand layed, autoclave-cured carbon/epoxy prepreg. Until recently, however, manual deflashing, trimming and drilling of the demolded parts consumed more than an hour to meet requirements for edge quality and fastener hole location
Read MoreCritical fiber sizing
To achieve desirable properties in composite components, adhesion between fiber and matrix must be optimized. Adhesion requires sufficient saturation with resin (wetout) at the fiber/matrix interface. To ensure good adhesion, attention must be given to fiber surface preparation, such as the use of a surface finish or
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Managing multi-axis manufacturing
Much early computer numerically controlled (CNC) machinery served short-run military and space programs where cost per part was too high to be acceptable in the manufacture of commercial aircraft. Now, Automated CNC machinery moves toward volume production and part-specific design.
Read MoreWaterjet cutting system tackles big job, outdoor environment
When Plasti-Fab Inc. (Tualatin, Ore.), a manufacturer of corrosion-resistant equipment for water and wastewater treatment and control, landed a contract to cut hundreds of circles out of 8,000-lb/3,629-kg, 1-inch/25 mm thick rectangular fiberglass plates, the company needed an efficient cutting solution. Tests with a
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