Design & Tooling
Direct manufacturing of military aircraft parts
Laser sintering process shortens lead time, simplifies production of complex, high-performance parts.
Read More
Solvent-free release a good match for wind blade molding
Wind power’s reputation as a “green” technology belies the fact that production of turbine components requires many materials and products that aren’t green.
Read More
Team-built bus body bests all
OEM meets tight development schedule on superlight multipart molded shell to offset propulsion system weight in fuel cell-powered transit bus.
Read More
Challenge of engineering retrofit blades
Myriad interrelated design factors are considered in new blades for turbines originally built for high-wind regimes.
Read More
Lightweight, stable large-tool concept requires no master model
After two years of testing, partners Advanced Composites Group (ACG, Tulsa, Okla.) and GrafTech (Parma, Ohio) are commercializing the ACG GRAFOAM FPA-20 tooling system, a new concept in dimensionally stable, low-mass, high-temperature-compatible composite tooling. The system’s foundation is carbon foam.
Read More
C-Scan inspection facility cuts cost for commercial copter
Bell Helicopter Textron’s (Ft. Worth, Texas) 429 helicopter, first revealed in 2008, is targeted to individual, corporate and emergency-services customers.
Read More
AFP/ATL design-to-manufacture: Bridging the gap
Managing production of a structure made via fiber or tape placement often requires software-aided manipulation of the subtle differences between that which is designed and that which can be manufactured.
Read More
Composite wing key to high-speed stability
First mass-produced CFRP wing helps supercar achieve downforce and lateral acceleration values superior to many GT racing cars.
Read More
Neat resin specimen fabrication aids
To obtain quality experimental data, one must have access to quality test specimens.
Read More
Aircraft simulation gets composites aware
Rapid software evolution enables faster, better virtual solutions to complex composite design problems.
Read More
