Molds/Tools

Adhesives

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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Carbon Fibers

Tooling for composites: Evolutionary trajectory

New technologies and improved methods keep up as tools get bigger and more complex and toolmaking gets ever more challenging.

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Autoclave

Tooling boards improve processes

In the composites industry, many parts are the product of one-off or few-of-a-kind production programs. In response, tooling material suppliers today provide an increasing variety of relatively inexpensive materials grouped under the heading of tooling board.

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Autoclave

New options for trapped tooling

Trapped tool removal can be difficult, but leaving the tool in place can compromise part weight and function. Here, HPC reports on several new approaches to this demolding dilemma.

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Water tree: Single complex mold shapes unique composite sculpture

To fabricate a complex design for a lighted sculpture, sculptor Lawrence Argent taps the talents of composites specialists Kreysler and Assoc. (American Canyon, Calif.).

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Molds/Tools

Proper mold care: Mandatory!

CT surveys mold care product suppliers for guidance through the critical steps of mold preparation and maintenance.

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Automotive

Low-volume thermoplastics: Differential pressure molding

Cost-effective tooling and presses enable semi-automated prototyping and low-volume production of thermoplastic composites.

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Adhesives

Cabin cruiser: Making the most of a mirror finish

The hull mirror-like gel coat finish on the Daedulus 30 cabin cruiser was achieved through a combination of Marine Concepts’ (Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, U.K.) mold design experience and fabrication techniques and materials provided by Scott Bader (Wollaston, Northamptonshire, U.K.).

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Out of Autoclave

Maintaining fiber length in complex 3-D designs

Award-winning composite pallet showcases new LFT molding process from South Africa.

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Prepregs

SQRTM enables net-shape parts

New out-of-autoclave process combines resin transfer molding with prepregs for complex helicopter part prototype.

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