Kraussmaffei Metering Systems
Published

WSU-NIAR successfully commissions Cevotec’s SAMBA Pro Prepreg system

Installation at NIAR’s ATLAS facility will drive new R&D opportunities for U.S. customers and interested parties, further establish fiber patch placement for composites manufacturing on an international level.

Share

 

Cevotec SAMBA system at WSU-NIAR

Photo Credit: WSU-NIAR 

The National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University (WSU, Kan., U.S.) has expanded its portfolio of future composites production technologies with the commision of Cevotec’s (Unterhaching, Germany) SAMBA Pro Prepreg system at NIAR’s Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems (ATLAS). Said to be the first fiber patch placement (FPP) system in the U.S., its installment strengthens NIAR’s position in aerospace and composites research and development (R&D), creating new opportunities for U.S. customers and interested parties. Moreover, it represents the establishment of FPP technology as an advanced composites manufacturing technology for aerospace components on an international level.

With more than one million square feet of research and office space, NIAR provides research, design, testing, certification and training to the aerospace and manufacturing industries, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Defense (DOD) and other government agencies. Cevotec’s SAMBA system expands the institute’s portfolio in the field of automated production technologies. Since FPP enables the fully automated layup of complex-shaped parts and is compatible with a broad variety of materials, WSU-NIAR believes it is an ideal enhancement to existing robotic production equipment such as advanced fiber placement (AFP) and automated tape laying (ATL) systems at NIAR.

“With the addition of SAMBA system, we can now automate manufacturing of composite parts that were geometrically too complex for automation while precisely controlling fiber orientations for optimizing part design” Dr. Waruna Seneviratne, ATLAS director says. “We are currently designing several demonstrator parts and certification protocols for showcasing the benefits of FPP for complex aerostructures.”

The SAMBA system is equipped with two in-process inspections systems for quality assurance. The first system inspects the quality of every patch, rejecting the ones with defects, and the second system ensures the accuracy at the placement gripper prior to layup. One of the new features of the SAMBA Pro Prepreg system is the ultrasonic cutting unit. With improved cutting performance, especially for prepreg material, various patch sizes of rectangular shape with an areal weight of up to 300 gsm can be cut out of the fiber tape. Featured with an advanced material cooling, the SAMBA system can process a wide variety of carbon fibers, glass fibers and other technical materials, both in dry fiber and prepreg configuration.

The SAMBA system operates with a large, six-axis tool manipulator and a fast four-axis Scara placement robot with three different gripper sizes. Available in sizes from 45 x 90 millimeters up to 60 x 240 millimeters, the gripper adapts to highly complex surfaces. Patches can be placed across 90° angles and on biaxially curved surfaces without negative draping effects. Despite the high complexity of possible layup shapes, a high areal throughput of up to nine square meters/hour is achieved.

“Together, with our U.S. partner Composite Automation [Cape Coral, Fla., U.S.], we are proud to install a SAMBA Pro system at NIAR, the U.S.’ premier aviation research institute,” states Thorsten Groene, CEO and co-founder at Cevotec. “It’s an important step to bring FPP technology to U.S.-based composite manufacturers, and we look forward to working with NIAR on further advancing the FPP process and applications.”

The new system at NIAR will open multiple options for interested manufacturers for the evaluation of FPP technology for their purposes, including new application and process development, integration with existing processes, prototyping and testing.

Cevotec and Composite Automation will be present at the SAMPE conference and exhibition from May 23-26 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Interested parties can meet the team at booth S30 and discuss possible collaborations regarding the new SAMBA Pro Prepreg system at NIAR. In Europe, Cevotec and NIAR will also exhibit their solutions and services at the JEC World trade show from May 3-5 in Paris, France.

Chem Trend
Thermwood Corp.
Keyland Polymer
KraussMaffei Metering Systems
NewStar Adhesives - Nautical Adhesives
HEATCON Composite Systems
Sysenqo high performance materials
A manufacturing puzzle
Airtech
industrial CNC routers
Keyland Polymer
HEATCON Composite Systems

Read Next

ATL/AFP

NIAR-WSU, Victrex begin NCAMP materials and process qualification for AFP

In-depth investigation into AFP machine variability on composite allowables begins on carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) test panels to achieve certification framework.

Read More
Pressure Vessels

Composites end markets: Energy (2024)

Composites are used widely in oil/gas, wind and other renewable energy applications. Despite market challenges, growth potential and innovation for composites continue.

Read More
Trends

CW’s 2024 Top Shops survey offers new approach to benchmarking

Respondents that complete the survey by April 30, 2024, have the chance to be recognized as an honoree.

Read More
Chem Trend