Thermoplastics
Preforming goes industrial: Part 2
Automated preforming isn’t only for 2D and 2.5D parts. Innovators are taking successful aim at building 3D preforms at production speeds.
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Center for mass production of lightweight composites
German R&D center brings together 8 institutes and more than 80 companies from 120 countries to help industrialize composite parts production.
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Automated Preforming, Part 3: Quilted Stratum Process
CW’s tour of Cetim and the QSP line which preforms multi-thickness thermoplastic materials in 40-90 seconds for composite parts with cycle times of 1-2 minutes.
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2017 Paris Air Show is good for composites
There is definitely a lot going on this week at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airfield. Much of it relates to composites. Here’s a brief rundown.
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Thermoplastic composite panels deliver affordable housing solutions
Modular construction concept takes composite housing another step forward, offering a wide range of comparably priced housing solutions to builders of all types.
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Shape Machining shapes Elemental sports car
Designed and manufactured by a team of ex-McLaren designers, the recently launched RP1 features advanced aerodynamics and novel composite solutions, including an all-carbon composite passenger tub built to Formula 1 strength and stiffness standards.
Read MoreWhere are those promised composites technologies now?
Promising technologies of yesteryear: Where are they now? What can be learned from unfulfilled promise?
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Automated Preforming, Part 2: Glide Forming
Flat layups are shaped into stringers with different cross-sections, lengths, thicknesses and curvatures using a single machine at rates up to 10 mm per second.
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Preforming goes industrial: Part 1
ATL and AFP-based preforming options now abound for processing dry and/or impregnated reinforcements as quickly as 1 minute or less with potential yearly part yields in the millions.
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Composites recycling: Gaining traction
Recycling of carbon fiber, glass fiber and — at last — resins, is growing as new players enter the space.
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