Industrial Applications
Thermoset composites .....
..... create high strength lightweight beams
Structural beams
Collection of beams with varying profiles - all lightweight and
strong.
Structural beams
Composites can be formed into a vast array of shapes and profiles. The common elements are lightness and strength.
With increased emphasis on health and safety in the workplace, companies are turning more and more to lighter alternatives than steel. A large beam or shaft, traditionally made in high tensile steel might weigh 100 kg - in composite the same beam could be lifted by a child!
Thermoset provides a very stiff, strong, lightweight beam for use in
the paper industry.
Paper industry beam
Product requirements :
- Large lightweight structural beam for use in the paper industry.
- Over 3m in length.
- Capable of supporting many tonnes of paper or other sheet product.
- Must be light enough to be carried by one person.
Solution :
Thermoset composite beam. Produced using the bladder moulding technique in a heated mandrel. The composite fibres are carefully aligned to ensure maximum stiffness and strength along the length of the beam. Part is then machined to close tolerances, with slots or other features as required.
Compression moulding of thermoset showing integrated electrical
cable.
Sensor Arm
Product requirements :
- Lightweight and very stiff bent arm for holding a stylus used for surface measurement.
- Must provide good vibration damping.
- Integrated electrical cable.
Solution :
Compression moulding using thermoset composite with a solid PEI foam core for high damping characteristics.
Prototype Thermal Enclosure on inspection table.
Thermal Enclosure - for nuclear particle experiments
Product Requirements
- Low particle absorption
- Dimensional stability
- Low mass
Solution
Thin walled, double skinned carbon fibre epoxy tubular structure bladder moulded in modules and adhesively bonded together. The prototype structure (shown at right) proved the assembly method for the heating and cooling elements. The final version measures 1 metre in diameter x 1.6 metres long and weighs just 4kg.
Computer Case - for ultrasonic scanner
Product Requirements
- Robust to absorb knocks in the field
- Low mass for easy hand held transportation
- Good aesthetics - to go with the high tech image of the medical world
- Cost effective for production volumes of between 100 and 1000 sets per annum
Solution
Bladder moulded carbon fibre epoxy structure made in just 6 pieces. The complex 3D contoured aluminium mould tools provide and excellent surface on which to mould a high gloss finished part and cost a fraction of equivalent steel tools for injection moulded parts. Bladder moulding provided the low cost entry route necessary prove the concept and the development mould tools are now in regular production. The hybrid composite construction including carbon fibre gives a low weight, tough structure with an excellent appearance..
Material Copyright © 1999 C2 Composites.