Zone: Tooling Technology

Composite Spoilers Brake Airbus For Landing

Composite SpoilerNew RTM'd carbon composite center hinge fitting withstands 20-ton air load in commercial jet spoiler assembly.

Read Complete Article

Research Further:

Browse This Zone By Type:

All | Article (39) | Case Study (8)

Search This Zone:

Go

Most Recent Content in this Zone:

New metal coating to optimize composite tooling
5/1/2008
Near the end of its development cycle, this nanostructured metal overlay promises to extend the working life and improve the cost-effectiveness of carbon/epoxy tooling.
Aircraft interior bins benefit from fast-heat, fast-cool tool
3/1/2008
Airbus Industrie (Toulouse, France) wanted to cut cycle time off the production of interior storage bin doors for its A320 and A380 commercial airplanes and identified part cooling in the mold as the most likely source of potential time savings. The doors, about 1m long, are fabricated of a glass fiber prepregged with
Carbon/BMI and carbon foam form Invar alternative
1/1/2008
For years, Invar steel has been the material of choice for tooling that must endure repeated autoclave cycling in volume part production. Invar's disadvantage is its relatively high density and resulting large mass. As processors move away from hand layup and toward automated fiber and tape placement, there is a
Tooling Update: New dimensions in tooling
1/1/2008
Nanoenhancements, out-of-autoclave strategies and low-pressure RTM headline efforts to increase mold quality and productivity and cut tool cost.
JEC COMPOSITES 2007 Highlights
5/1/2007
Advanced composites make notable marks not only in traditional aerospace apps, but in automotive, sport and infrastructure arenas as well.

View More Content in This Zone | RSSRSS Feed

Overview Of:

Tooling Technology

The molds used for forming composites, also known as tools, can be made from virtually any material. For parts cured at ambient or low temperature, or for prototyping, where tight control of dimensional accuracy isn’t required, materials such as fiberglass, high-density foams, machinable epoxy “boards” or even clay or wood/plaster models are often suitable. Tooling costs and complexity increase as the part performance requirements and the number of parts to be produced go up. High-rate production tools are generally made of robust metals that can stand up to repeated cycles and maintain good finish and dimensional accuracy.

 


 

 

 

 

 

The molds in which high-performance composite parts are formed can be made from carbon fiber/epoxy, monolithic graphite, castable graphite, ceramics or metals. Each material offers unique capabilities and drawbacks. Sometimes called “hard” tooling, ceramic and metal tooling is relatively heavy and able to withstand many thousands of production cycles. Composite tools, sometimes called “soft” tooling, are more vulnerable to wear and typically find service in low-volume production.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read More...

Product Announcements

Nano-modified tooling prepreg
Amber Composites Ltd. 10/2/2008
Water-based mold release - 4/1/2008
Axel Plastics Research Labs Inc. 4/1/2008
Metal clad rapid prototyping - 3/1/2008
Laser Reproductions, DSM Somos, RePliForm Inc. 3/1/2008
Metal clad rapid prototyping
Laser Reproductions, DSM Somos, RePliForm Inc. 2/1/2008
Nanocomposite for rapid prototyping
3D Systems 2/1/2008

View More New Products | RSSRSS Feed

Huntadv
genepla
Coastal Enterprises
Weber