Articles
The half-full glass
During a recession — and I’ve only known relatively mild downturns until now — an editor always heads off to a trade show with, at best, some hesitancy and, at worst, gloomy pessimism.
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Lightweight, stable large-tool concept requires no master model
After two years of testing, partners Advanced Composites Group (ACG, Tulsa, Okla.) and GrafTech (Parma, Ohio) are commercializing the ACG GRAFOAM FPA-20 tooling system, a new concept in dimensionally stable, low-mass, high-temperature-compatible composite tooling. The system’s foundation is carbon foam.
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C-Scan inspection facility cuts cost for commercial copter
Bell Helicopter Textron’s (Ft. Worth, Texas) 429 helicopter, first revealed in 2008, is targeted to individual, corporate and emergency-services customers.
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SAMPE 2009 Preview
 The Society takes its U.S. trade show back to Baltimore, expecting to prepare advanced materials professionals for uncertain economic times.
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AFP/ATL design-to-manufacture: Bridging the gap
Managing production of a structure made via fiber or tape placement often requires software-aided manipulation of the subtle differences between that which is designed and that which can be manufactured.
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The outlook for unmanned aircraft
Focused on maximizing payload capacity and endurance, the market for composite aerostructures in unmanned aircraft production is poised to grow 300 percent over the next decade.
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Thermoplastic catamaran highlights plastic waste recycling
This month, adventurer David de Rothschild and a crew that will include several scientists will set sail on a 60-ft/18.5m catamaran, dubbed Plastiki, made entirely of postconsumer plastic bottles in various forms.
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CNC routers optimize cooling tower build
Although cooling towers traditionally have been made with wood and concrete, composite materials are gaining acceptance due to their corrosion and rot resistance, light weight and ease of installation.
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Neat resin specimen fabrication aids
To obtain quality experimental data, one must have access to quality test specimens.
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The color purple: The "no complaints" movement
So, I finally heard about the “no complaints” movement the other day, which involves wearing a rubberized purple bracelet and switching it from one wrist to the other whenever one utters a negative word.
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The future of composites education
Experts weigh in on the weighty problems this industry faces as it confronts a serious shortage of trained personnel.
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COMPOSITES+POLYCON 2009 Showcase
Despite the deepening recession, composites pros returned to the show in its new time slot to explore the wealth of products and services collected here.
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