EADS ETL
Technology
Fiber-patch preforming technology enables the automated production of composite preforms from a software lay-up plan, with the positioning of short fiber patches that have their fibers oriented along specific force paths to optimize the mechanical properties of carbon-fiber reinforced plastics.
Description
This technology allows short fibers to be positioned according to nearly any specification, with a robot providing a full range of possibilities in the fibers’ position and orientation of the fibers. The preforms are easy to use in standard infiltration processes, and can be combined with other preform types.
The fiber-patch preforming technology patent portfolio includes four inventions:
• The method and apparatus for producing a preform for a force flux-adapted fiber composite structure based on pickup and laydown of short fiber patches.
• An elastic fiber-placing die – also referred as the layup head – which is a core component of the fiber-patch preforming process in the pick-up and placement of short fiber patches.
• A device for splaying a fiber filament bundle, which can be used in the fiber-patch preforming process to provide, and feed, short fiber patches.
• An endless belt to transport the short fiber patches for the performing process.
Applications
Aerospace and large-scale automatic production of small, complex geometric carbon-fiber reinforced plastic structures and components.
Value-added benefits
Software-programmable, highly-automated production process, with the possibility to create complex shapes.
Status
Ready for licensing agreements and know-how transfer.
Video: Uniaxial braiding and fiber-patch preforming
Developed by EADS, uniaxial braiding and fibre-patch preforming are two technologies pursued by the company to expand industrial applications of carbon.
