Design & Tooling
The craft of aircraft repair
As the use of composites on commercial and military aircraft grows, repair facilities seek more science in what remains a primarily manual art.
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At the top and still climbing
Trek Bicycles' OCLV manufacturing method shortens cycle times and optimizes compaction in molded carbon fiber-bike frame components.
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Composites take off ... in some civil helicopters
Slowed by certification requirements, composites nevertheless are finding their way into the fuselages and rotor blades of commercial helicopters.
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Mold release update
New products from mold release manufacturers emphasize ease of use and application flexibility.
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Compression molding with structural carbon SMC
Aircraft weapon system gains the high performance of carbon/epoxy with the efficiency of compression molding.
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One-piece molded carbon steering wheel for yachts
Concurrent product and manufacturing system design creates lightweight, hollow spoked structure without joints.
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Anisotropic wind blade design expected to reduce wind-energy costs
Deliberately unbalanced laminate produces smoother power input from adaptive wind blades
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Composite speed sailboat readied to break 50-knot barrier
Sailrocket (Bitterne Manor, Southampton, U.K.) is using new design concepts and composites to make its Sailrocket speed sailboat, in hopes of breaking the existing speed record of 46.25 knots (the goal is 50 knots). Its unique counterfoil design bypasses the stability problems encountered by monohulls and multihulls.
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Tubular composite core stiffens launch vehicle structure
ChamberCore, an alternative to traditional sandwich laminates, also improves vibro-acoustic damping.
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Roll-wrapped golf club shafts feature sophisticated prepreg layup
Roll-wrapped golf shafts are produced through advanced laminate software program.
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