U.S. Navy, Boeing conduct first aerial refueling with unmanned aircraft
The composites-intensive MQ-25 successfully transferred jet fuel to a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet mid-air.
Grace Nehls
Assistant Editor, CompositesWorld
Air Force, WSU-NIAR to study operational impacts on legacy B-1B bomber fuselage
NIAR team will perform a complete teardown and comprehensive inspection program of the B-1B 86-0101 structure to enable the B-1 Division to more comprehensively manage the fleet of aging bombers.
Airbus delivers 100th composites-intensive A400M
Delivery to the Spanish Air Force adds to several additional achievements, including the A400M’s new certified capabilities and 100,000 flight hours recorded for its global fleet.
#a400m #airbus
New thermoset matrix resin offers fast, low-temp, tunable cure
HARP Rapid is a new thermoset resin chemistry for liquid molding processes that offers a fast, tunable cure profile, and a Tg that exceeds the material’s cure temperature.
#hprtm #outofautoclave
Airtech 3D-printed resin delivers advanced manufacturing capabilities to U.K. defense sector
Carbon fiber-reinforced, PEI-based Dahltram I-350CF resin system enables production of high-temperature mold tooling for next-gen combat air demonstrator.
#pei
Braided preforms and resin infusion for next-generation aerocomposites
Spintech shows significant cost and labor savings using its Smart Tooling, dry fiber preforms and RTM/VARTM technology on aircraft wing and inlet duct demonstrators.
#generalaviation #insidemanufacturing #braiding
Videos / Podcasts
Braided preforms and resin infusion for next-generation aerocomposites
Spintech shows significant cost and labor savings using its Smart Tooling, dry fiber preforms and RTM/VARTM technology on aircraft wing and inlet duct demonstrators.
#generalaviation #insidemanufacturing #braiding
Large-format 3D printing enables toolless, rapid production for AUVs
Dive Technologies started by 3D printing prototypes of its composite autonomous underwater vehicles, but AM became the solution for customizable, toolless production.
#discontinuousfiber
Bell starts operations at new Manufacturing Technology Center
Composites and metals manufacturing, automation, additive manufacturing and metrology will be undergirded by digital connectivity and digital twin to support affordable production of future vertical lift aircraft.
#automation #composites4_0
Braided preforms meet phase-change tooling
A program from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory adopts automated braiding and phase-change tooling for a complex geometry unmanned aircraft part.
#trends
Novel prepreg for compression molding in RAPM
Solvay and Boeing combine aerospace performance with process knowledge for high-rate, low-cost composites production.
#autoclave #automation #boeing
CSIRO: Developing higher-quality, higher-strength, lower-cost carbon fibers
SIROPAN precursor aims for >20% increase in carbon fiber properties with increased control via RAFT polymerization, FLOW processing and novel metrology.
#trends #sustainability #boeing
Composites Index contracts on weak backlogs
For February 2020, the Composites Index contracted slightly with a reading of 49.7.
#economics
Large-format 3D printing enables toolless, rapid production for AUVs
Dive Technologies started by 3D printing prototypes of its composite autonomous underwater vehicles, but AM became the solution for customizable, toolless production.
#discontinuousfiber
U.S. Navy, Boeing conduct first aerial refueling with unmanned aircraft
The composites-intensive MQ-25 successfully transferred jet fuel to a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet mid-air.
Air Force, WSU-NIAR to study operational impacts on legacy B-1B bomber fuselage
NIAR team will perform a complete teardown and comprehensive inspection program of the B-1B 86-0101 structure to enable the B-1 Division to more comprehensively manage the fleet of aging bombers.
Airbus delivers 100th composites-intensive A400M
Delivery to the Spanish Air Force adds to several additional achievements, including the A400M’s new certified capabilities and 100,000 flight hours recorded for its global fleet.
#a400m #airbus
Airtech 3D-printed resin delivers advanced manufacturing capabilities to U.K. defense sector
Carbon fiber-reinforced, PEI-based Dahltram I-350CF resin system enables production of high-temperature mold tooling for next-gen combat air demonstrator.
#pei
Teledyne CML Composites invests in thermoplastic processing capability
In conjunction with the NCC, the automated processing cell supports high-performance thermoplastic and compression-molded thermoset parts production for the commercial aerospace and defense markets.
U.S. Air Force awards airworthiness approval to Beta Technologies ALIA aircraft
Endorsement follows manned electric aircraft into next phase of flight testing, with the goal to enable new markets and accelerate UAM development.
Additive Molding technology revolutionizes autonomous drone design
Arris’ Additive Molding process uses consolidated glass/carbon fiber airframe to optimize performance and reduce costs to produce Skydio X2 drone for industrial, consumer and defense use.
#uas #electronics #application
NEW PRODUCTS: DEFENSE
New thermoset matrix resin offers fast, low-temp, tunable cure
HARP Rapid is a new thermoset resin chemistry for liquid molding processes that offers a fast, tunable cure profile, and a Tg that exceeds the material’s cure temperature.
#hprtm #outofautoclave
Stratasys carbon fiber material for 3D printer line is more functional, lightweight and versatile
ABS-based carbon fiber material for the Stratasys F123 Series 3D printer line is 15% stronger and 50% stiffer compared to standard ABS.
Dynamic Modifiers introduces low-smoke, flame-retardant thermoplastic compound
Made for a wide range of markets, PAL...VersaCHAR addresses concerns surrounding traditional flame-retardant materials without sacrificing performance.
Hexcel launches electrically conductive PEKK-based carbon fiber material
HexPEKK EM is a high-performance material for additive manufacturing that meets electromagnetic shielding, radiation absorption requirements.
#pekk
DSM introduces new UHMWPE fiber
Compared to DSM’s original Dyneema thermoplastic fiber products, Trosar addresses a wider range of high-performance applications.
#sustainability
Solvay launches epoxy prepreg for aerostructures compression molding
Solvay Composite Materials has launched CYCOM EP2750, a new highly drapable epoxy prepreg designed specifically for the compression molding of high-quality, high-rate, cost-effective primary and secondary aerostructures.
#airbus #layup #outofautoclave
