Autoclave
Plant tour: Airbus, Illescas, Spain
Airbus’ Illescas facility, featuring highly automated composites processes for the A350 lower wing cover and one-piece Section 19 fuselage barrels, works toward production ramp-ups and next-generation aircraft.
Hannah Mason
Technical Editor, CompositesWorld
VIDEO: One-Piece, OOA Infusion for Aerospace Composites
Tier-1 aerostructures manufacturer Spirit AeroSystems developed an out-of-autoclave (OOA), one-shot resin infusion process to reduce weight, labor and fasteners for a multi-spar aircraft torque box.
Read MoreComposites manufacturing for general aviation aircraft
General aviation, certified and experimental, has increasingly embraced composites over the decades, a path further driven by leveraged innovation in materials and processes and the evolving AAM market.
Read MorePlant tour: Spirit AeroSystems, Belfast, Northern Ireland, U.K.
Purpose-built facility employs resin transfer infusion (RTI) and assembly technology to manufacture today’s composite A220 wings, and prepares for future new programs and production ramp-ups.
Read MorePEEK vs. PEKK vs. PAEK and continuous compression molding
Suppliers of thermoplastics and carbon fiber chime in regarding PEEK vs. PEKK, and now PAEK, as well as in-situ consolidation — the supply chain for thermoplastic tape composites continues to evolve.
Read MoreThe state of recycled carbon fiber
As the need for carbon fiber rises, can recycling fill the gap?
Read MorePRF Composite Materials introduces RP570 FR eXpress cure prepreg system
Ultra-fast, fire-retardant formulation targets snap cure press molding of structural components.
Read More
Industrial composite autoclaves feature advanced control, turnkey options
CAMX 2024: Designed and built with safety and durability in mind, Akarmark delivers complete curing autoclave systems for a variety of applications.
Grace Nehls
Senior Managing Editor, CompositesWorld
Materials & Processes: Tooling for composites
Composite parts are formed in molds, also known as tools. Tools can be made from virtually any material. The material type, shape and complexity depend upon the part and length of production run. Here's a short summary of the issues involved in electing and making tools.
Read MoreMaterials & Processes: Composites fibers and resins
Compared to legacy materials like steel, aluminum, iron and titanium, composites are still coming of age, and only just now are being better understood by design and manufacturing engineers. However, composites’ physical properties — combined with unbeatable light weight — make them undeniably attractive.
Read MoreMaterials & Processes: Resin matrices for composites
The matrix binds the fiber reinforcement, gives the composite component its shape and determines its surface quality. A composite matrix may be a polymer, ceramic, metal or carbon. Here’s a guide to selection.
Read MoreMaterials & Processes: Fabrication methods
There are numerous methods for fabricating composite components. Selection of a method for a particular part, therefore, will depend on the materials, the part design and end-use or application. Here's a guide to selection.
Read MoreSafran Nacelles Morocco installs large autoclave, doubles cleanroom per development plan to increase production rates
Extension of 6,000 square meters dedicated to Gulfstream G700/G800 production, groundwork laid to digitalize processes and reduce environmental footprint.
Read MoreSaint-Gobain, Roctool join efforts to boost composite 3D textile preform parts manufacturing
3D automated knitted preform layup technology and heat and cooling technologies for additional curing efficiency open a new window of application opportunities for composite and thermoplastic parts.
Read More
Busch expands autoclave solutions
Busch announces its ability to address all autoclave, oven and associated composites manufacturing requirements following the acquisition of Vacuum Furnace Engineering.
Out-of-autoclave VBO rear spar, thermoplastic ribs target Wing of Tomorrow
French Tier 1 aerospace supplier Daher develops out-of-autoclave materials and process technologies for application in next-gen structures for the Airbus Wing of Tomorrow program.
Read MoreCMS debuts hybrid LFAM/milling machine
The machining specialist has developed the first iteration of Kreator, a large-format, thermoplastic composite 3D printer and five-axis milling machine for tooling and jigs.
Read MoreDesign innovations improve efficiency of composite medical table
WIT-Composites' efforts to design a more effective all-composite surgical table led to development of complex components and an elastic carbon fiber material.
Read MoreNAWA Technologies develops U.S. subsidiary to extend VACNT application scope
NAWA America’s immediate focus is to bring NAWAStitch to mass market, a thin film containing trillions of VACNT arranged perpendicular to the carbon fiber layers to reinforce the weakest part of a composite.
Read MoreCompoTech launches standard range for carbon finer epoxy beams
Produced via AFP and precision press molded results in a high-strength carbon epoxy composite beam with 10-15% higher stiffness in the axial direction.
Read MoreKanfit installs new autoclave, automated cutter to increase composite parts production capacity
Composite parts producer in Israel increases capabilities for composites, 3D printing and hybrid assemblies.
Read More
Plataine unveils AI-based autoclave scheduling optimization tool
The Autoclave Scheduler is designed to increase autoclave throughput, save operational costs and energy, and contribute to sustainable composite manufacturing.
C-FREX exoskeleton depends on CFRP for unpowered movement
C-FREX uses a novel design and CFRP to overcome the heaviness and weakness of metallic exoskeletons.
Read MoreRecycled thermoplastic composite rotorcraft access panel takes flight
Designed as part of the TPC-Cycle program, the flight-tested panel demonstrates a lighter, cost-effective, sustainable thermoplastic composite application.
Read MoreHigh-rate, automated aerospace RTM line delivers next-gen spoilers
At Spirit AeroSystem’s Prestwick facility in Scotland, a glimpse of the future of aerocomposites manufacturing in a resin transfer molding line for A320 spoilers.
Read MoreDigital 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.
Read MorePlasan North America expands composite manufacturing solutions
The company plans to expand and invest in automated cutting technology to go with established prepregging, pultrusion and autoclave cure expertise.
Read MoreThe untapped potential in Formula 1 composite manufacture
Formula 1’s midfield teams are struggling to bridge the gap to their better resourced frontrunning counterparts. Could Industry 4.0 composites manufacturing automation level the playing field?
Read More.jpg;maxWidth=300;quality=90;format=webp)
