CompoTech highlights advantages of winding, filament placement production platforms

CompoTech’s six-axis robotic platform axially winds a full-size test sample of a non-cylindrical hydrogen tank designed to fit inside a light aircraft wing. Source (All Images) | CompoTech

CompoTech (Sušice, Czech Republic) is exhibiting its high-performance CFRP telescopic mast technology, alongside other components and applications that highlight the advantages of its winding technology.

Examples include carbon fiber/epoxy structural beams and tubes, wound aerostructures with integrated structural components and a hydrogen storage tank prototype developed for integration into “ultralight” aircraft wings. Existing and development applications for lightweight carbon fiber telescopic mast structures include: wind ships; mobile defence surveillance equipment; radar, navigation and satellite telecommunications systems.

JEC attendees can discover how CompoTech’s proprietary automated winding process technologies manufacture ultra-stiff, carbon fiber composite components that are able to replace traditional metals. High performance is thanks to the optimal mechanical properties achieved via CompoTech’s “true zero” axial fiber placement (AFL) and winding production technologies. Unlike conventional winding, which cannot perfectly align fibers, CompoTech’s AFL process allows both pitch and PAN carbon fibrers to be placed exactly at 0° along the axis of a tube or hollow beam. The result is a structural component with optimal dimensional accuracy, surface quality and mechanical properties such as:

Axial stiffness up to 330 GPa, surpassing steel
Up to 50% greater bending strength than conventionally wound CFRP beams
Components up to 75% lighter than steel, yet performance-matched in stiffness
High dimensional stability.

CompoTech’s versatile winding and filament placement production platform is available as a turnkey solution for manufacturers. Each automated machine comes with CompoTech’s advanced winding technologies and control software as standard, along with after-sales technical and product development support.

Non-cylindrical hydrogen tank cross-section shows the internal structure of its optimized design for a wing section.

The company is an established global supplier of carbon fiber/epoxy component designs and automated fiber placement solutions. The knowledge and expertise gained from 30 years of successful process development projects and the production of high-precision, dynamic automation manufacturing systems has gained the company business in many sectors including aerospace, agriculture, defense, automotive, transport, bicycles and leisure marine.

Visit CompoTech at Booth G85 in Hall 6.