CW Blog
Drones: Unpiloted composite vehicles head out to sea
Although the term drone for the most part has been synonymous with machines built to fly, sailboat drones designed and built by Saildrone (Alameda, CA, US) are poised to replace for expensive (and manned) research ships and stationary buoy systems that now gather marine data.
Read MoreDrones: MIT software casts doubt on solar-powered UAVs
A new MIT-developed aircraft modeling software tool called geometric programming optimization —GPkit, for short — reportedly considers about 200 factors and physical models simultaneously, and then integrates them to create an optimal aircraft design.
Read More
Generative design and continuous 3D fiber deposition
Generative design replicates nature’s evolutionary approach by combining artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing to provide thousands of solutions to one engineering problem.
Watch
Composites Pavilion at AIA 2018
New composite products for architecture/construction and student designs innovate how composites can be used.
Read MoreEpisode 19: Tom Lemire, TFLemire Consulting
Tom Lemire is a composites industry consultant, which is the latest culmination of his career spanning back to 1969 with stints at Owens Corning, EDO Fiber Science, BASF, Toho and others.
Listen
Slitting and kitting with Web Industries
CW Talks: The Composites Podcast catches up with Web Industrie’s Manish Patel and Ashley Graeber to talk tape slitting, kitting and cutting and more.
Read MoreNew Products: June 2018
CW’s monthly roundup of new products for the composites industry – this month has seen innovations from Anaglyph, KraussMaffei, Hexagon and Hypertherm.
Read More
Serving pultrusion customers in the digital age
Thanks to composites and robust engineering design, the life expectancy of two FRP footbridges in Scotland is expected to be more than 60 years.
Read MoreCSP Van Wert Facility turns 40
Continental Structural Plastics compounding facility in Van Wert is celebrating 40 years in business.
Read More
Still working toward electric aircraft
A lot of research effort continues on electric propulsion for aircraft; many programs are aimed at developing viable battery-electric or solar propulsion for smaller aircraft.
Watch
Building an aircraft without molds or fasteners?
MTorres has a concept (TRL 6) with which aircraft will be built with minimal hand labor, without typical molds, without metallic fasteners, and without typical stringers as they are used today.
Read More
Protecting Composite Surfaces Against the Elements
Aerospace composite surfaces are subject to weathering, erosion and other potential damage. Surfacing films not only protect the structural fibers but provide an addition layer to protect composite materials from external influences. (Sponsored Content)
Read More