Design/Simulation

PLM software streamlines robotic cell development

FASTCURVE and FASTTIP, part of FASTSUITE from CENIT (Stuttgart, Germany), have been used successfully by Hyde Group Holdings Ltd. (Cheshire, U.K.) to optimize composite wing manufacturing.

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Resins

Concert hall composites: Acoustic alchemy

Massive composite acoustic structures will reflect and diffuse sound to heighten audio quality in a new high-profile performance space.

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Wind/Energy

Topology optimization

For Airbus (Toulouse, France), topology optimization is just one of many computer-aided optimization techniques that have been employed in the aircraft design process — and employed ever earlier — to reduce time and cost.

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Weaving

Composite propeller for Royal Navy minehunter

Composite-for-metal replacement brings multiple benefits.

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Software speeds tape layer production, optimizes precision

the Siemens Aerospace Center of Excellence's (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) developed the Siemens SINUMERIK 840D CNC system speeds production on a large ATL machine at the former Boeing Wichita plant (now Spirit AeroSystems) in Wichita, Kan.

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Improving laminates through anisotropy and homogenization

Dr. Stephen Tsai, professor research emeritus in the Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics at Stanford University, discusses the merits of unbalanced (anisotropic) layers in composite laminates.

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Purging conservatism from composite designs

Craig Collier, president of Collier Research Group (Hampton, Va.) says cross-discipline software interconnectivity will unlock the full potential of composites.

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PEKK

Carbon fiber/PEEK takes hydraulic pump to new depths

A switch from metal to composites reduces weight, minimizes part deflection in ultradeep ocean installations.

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ATL/AFP

Carrier-capable, all-composite external fuel tank

Legacy product positions builder for a shot at an F-35 contract.

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Autoclave

Software eases design/build for exotic exercise bike

The Lamiflex Group (Bergamo, Italy) helps Milan, Italy-based design house Luca Schieppati develop the Ciclotte, a striking luxury exercise bicycle made with carbon fiber composites.

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