CW Blog

Composite materials and innovations are constantly evolving. In addition to industry news, features, blog posts and podcasts, CW also maintains a comprehensive collection of product announcements provided by companies. This monthly roundup includes links to regular posts concerning the latest products of interest to the composites industry.

This month has seen innovations from Airtech, Analyswift, Arkema, Ashland, Azco, BÜFA Composite Systems, Coastal Enterprises Jetcam, Mahr, Metrology, MultiMechanics, Panacol, Porcher Industries and Techsil. 

CW first reported on OceanGate (Everett, WA, US) a year ago, when we described the design and development of the composites-intensive Cyclops 2 five-person, deep-sea submersible vehicle. Cyclops 2, at the time, was in the final stages of production and eventually would venture down to re-examine the wreckage of the RMS Titanic in the northern Atlantic Ocean.

It’s almost time for the 2018 Tour de France — no, not that one with the bicycles, but the Tour de France à la Voile. It’s a coastal sailing race, where competitors sail small trimarans from port to port along the coast of France, from Dunkerque to Nice. It begins on July 6 and ends July 22.

A new 3D-printed prosthetic leg from TriFusion Devices (College Station, TX, US), a subsidiary of BASF (Florham Park, NJ, US) and Essentium Inc. (College Station, TX, US), features a thermoplastic carbon fiber definitive prosthetic socket that allows for life cycle adjustments without weakening its structure – which isn’t easily accomplished with traditional sockets.

The prosthetic leg is printed with BASF’s Ultramid polyamide reinforced with short carbon fiber. The definitive socket is made with thermoplastic material and allows for small adjustments to ensure a comfortable fit for patients – the socket can be adjusted in 2-3mm increments as needed throughout the prosthetic’s life cycle. The technology allows for a quicker turn around as well. While traditional carbon fiber sockets typically take around three days to mold and cast, 3D printing streamlines the process. The 3D-printed sockets can ship in less than 24 hours from time of the scan.

Leaders in all facets of manufacturing will be on hand at the National Association for Surface Finishing’s Sur/Fin Manufacturing and Technology Trade Show and Conference in Cleveland, June 4-6 to hear about the latest technology and science in the world of surface finishing.

The technical program features 83 presentations, including an automotive OEM panel discussion, offering attendees 42 hours of exposure to new and existing technology, and perhaps more importantly, access to the industry experts who are presenting.