We develop concepts, special purpose machines and system solutions around the thermoplastic tape placement!
Compared to the competition, we offer non-standardized solutions. We develop and manufacture thermoplastic tape placement machines that are tailored towards your products.
The term “tape-placement” is generally referred to the automated direction-and position-variable lay-down of unidirectional fiber-reinforced plastic strips on flat or curved surface. These machines enable the production of structurally loaded and highly reinforced components. Local reinforcements or force-flow fiber depositions have also been reported.
In the early 80s, the first systems were built for the processing of thermoplastic tapes in the laboratories of research institutes. The aim was to combine the findings of thermoset technologies with the advantages of thermoplastic tapes. The following general advantages are highlighted compared to thermoset FRP:
- unlimited shelf life
- manufacturing in a non air-conditioned environment
- out-of-autoclave processing with in-situ consolidation
- very good impact properties
- extraordinary chemical resistance of semi-crystalline thermoplastics
- fusible, formable, weldable
- short processing cycles available
- solvent-free processing
Of particular note is the in-situ consolidation and thus a out-of-autoclave production, as this accounts for a very time-consuming and expensive manufacturing step.
We combine the experience of a large number of prototypes.
References:
Beresheim, G.: Thermoplast-Tapelegen – ganzheitliche Prozessanalyse und -entwicklung. In: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Manfred Neitzel (Hrsg.): IVW Schriftenreihe Band 32. Kaiserslautern: Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe GmbH, 2002
Steeg, M.; Schlarb, A. K.; Schledjewski, R.: Automation implementation and process development of thermoplastic tape placement for 3-dimensional parts. SAMPE, 42, 5 (2006), pp. 18-24
Junglen, D.; Schledjewski, R.; Schlarb, A. K.; Steeg, M.: Fully automated thermoplastic tape placement process. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Composites Manufacturing Technology for Aircraft Structures, Marknesse, May 17-18, 2006
Schlimbach, J.: Ökonomische Prozessanalyse und Modellintegration zur Kostenberechnung von Faser-Kunststoff-Verbunden. In: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alois K. Schlarb (Hrsg.): IVW Schriftenreihe Band 64. Kaiserslautern: Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe GmbH, 2006
Neitzel, M.; Mitschang, P.: Handbuch Verbundwerkstoffe. München/Wien: Carl Hanser Verlag, 2004