CW Blog

Out of Autoclave

Research on OOA processing continues

Much work has been done to make OOA processing practical for aerospace applications, but much work still remains if it is to become the compelling option.

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Aerospace

Dry fiber placement: Surpassing limits

Coriolis Composites’ automated aerostructures manufacturing using dry materials moves from development projects to production.

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Out of Autoclave

OOA: Thermoplastic alternative targets performance spec

CF/PEEK helicopter driveshaft’s toughness trumps traditional metric.

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Out of Autoclave

VBO prepregs: The Vision SF50

OOA vacuum-bag-only process makes carbon fiber structures a reality for the world’s first personal jet.

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Aerospace

Resin transfer molding: An update

Fulfilling the promise of OOA composites without sacrificing pressure.

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Sustainability

Resin infusion: Taking off?

Boeing Aerostructures Australia leads large-scale development of resin infusion as an industrial process.

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Fabrics/Preforms

OOA overview: Market & opportunities

CW looks at where aero-OEMs and their suppliers are finding out-of-autoclave alternatives.

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Aerospace

Composites manufacturing from a different angle

A bunch of really smart engineers showed up in Long Beach, CA, US this week for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers’ (SME, Dearborn, MI, US) AeroDef conference and exhibition. All were focused on looking at ways to manufacture products — composite or not — more efficiently.

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Aerospace

If we recycle it, will they come?

Thanks to the 787 and the A350 XWB aircraft programs, the composites industry has more scrap carbon fiber prepreg than it knows what to do with. At least, not yet.

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Aerospace

Composites help Bell V-280 toward Future Vertical Lift

Bell’s design for future military helicopter uses hybrid metal-composite construction and Large Cell Carbon Core technology for unitized wing.

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Automotive

Automated filament winding enables competitive composite cylinders

Carefully controlled, robust, volume processes offer fabricators of Class IV LPG/CNG tanks a means to meet increasing demand in Europe and Asia.

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Thermoplastic honeycomb cores: Tough insulated sandwiches

Foam-filled nylon/polyester fabric yields sandwich panel cores with excellent mechanicals, durability, thermal insulation.

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