Molds/Tools

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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Maintaining fiber length in complex 3-D designs

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

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Fabrics/Preforms

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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Building a bigger Big Wheel

Machining specialist scales up the 1970s icon, producing plugs and tools for an exact fiberglass replica at a Disney resort.

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Carbon Fibers

Cost-effective carbon composite reflector dish

Modular manufacturing method forms different dish sizes with near mirror-perfect reflective surfaces, without resort to one-off tools.

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Molds/Tools

Residential construction breakthrough: Composites find a home

Composite materials get the go-ahead for an unconventional but code-compliant California house.

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Out of Autoclave

Gurit CBS for the Aston Martin DBS

Out-of-autoclave process mints Class A carbon composite body panels in one-hour mold cycle.

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RTM showcase: One-Piece Rudder

A transatlantic design team uses concurrent engineering to integrate rudder spars, ribs and skins in a single RTM cycle.  

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Aerospace

Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft proves large structure practicality

Dr. John Russell reports that the successful completion of a flying aircraft in the the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft program has demonstrated the holistic impact that composites technology can have on future aircraft development.

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Wind/Energy

Solvent-free release a good match for wind blade molding

Wind power’s reputation as a “green” technology belies the fact that production of turbine components requires many materials and products that aren’t green.

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microwire technology for composites