Thermoplastic Tape Processing
Kasım 2, 2018
Using an AFP robot along with a large ply cutting table to produce stringer charges used in composite airplane manufacture.
This combination of manufacturing processes in the same cell allows for a unique set of capabilities.
The Gantry ply cutter shown here is a simple 4 axis model with automatic material feed function .
6 axis models for angled and tapered ultrasonic are also available. Various automatic material feed capabilities can also be added.
Using AFP process allows for manufacturing of engineered single ply and multi-ply charges that waste almost no carbon fiber material.
This has a advantages both in terms of design flexibility and material costs when compared to a standard ply cutting table techniques.
On standard standalone ply cutting tables, sheets of unidirectional prepreg material or woven material are cut with large percentages of waste.
This waste exists even with best nesting software and techniques.
Automated Fiber Placement also allows for steering of tow in the plane of the ply or charge.
This allows for engineering of preform/ply/charge properties that can’t be attained through any manufacturing process.
These charges can then be automatically formed or manually place on tools for curing.