Manufacturing Technology 2022, 22(2):204-210 | DOI: 10.21062/mft.2022.027
Vacuum System for Reinforcing Fabric Handling
- Czech Aerospace Research Centre, Space Division. Beranových 130, 199 05 Praha. Czech Republic
The paper considers questions asotiated with automated systems to produce composite parts. Exist-ing automated systems used in aerospace production are usually based on lay-up technologies. The main objective of the on-going development is to find an affordable production technology for com-posite parts that can be easily automated. The handling with dry reinforcing fabrics is objective of the paper: dry fabric is placed in a suitable mold where it is impregnated by selected type of a matrix and consolidated under vacuum bag afterwards. Based on experiments using standard gripping systems, it was found that local damage of reinforcing fibers occurs. For these reasons, a new vacuum suction-based gripper was developed. As a suction source industrial vacuum cleaner was used, whose perfor-mance can be regulated continuously. Functionality of the suction system was verified on six differ-ent types of reinforcing materials, using two different types of suction grid at three different levels of vacuum cleaner performance. Performed experiments verified suitability of the designed solution for manipulation with dry fabrics without the risk of their damage.
Keywords: Fibre reinforced plastic, Vacuum System, Automated Production, Gripper, Handling
Grants and funding:
This research work was carried out within the framework of the institutional support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, project ICOMP, subproject ICOMP3, Order account no.: DKRV01.
Received: September 14, 2021; Revised: April 21, 2022; Accepted: April 21, 2022; Prepublished online: April 21, 2022; Published: May 15, 2022 Show citation
References
- SLOAN, J. (2008). ATL and AFP: Defining the megatrends in composite aerostructures [online], [2021-09-10]. https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/atl-and-afp-defining-the-megatrends-in-composite-aerostructures
- DENKENA, B., SCHMIDT, C., WEBER, P. (2016). Automated Fiber Placement Head for Manufacturing of Innovative Aerospace Stiffening Structures. In: Procedia Manufacturing, Vol. 6, pp. 96-104, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2016.11.013
Go to original source...
- BRÜNING J., DENKENA, B., DITTRICH, M.A., HOCKE, T. (2017). Machine Learning Approach for Optimization of Automated Fiber Placement Processes. In: Procedia CIRP, Vol. 66, pp. 74-78, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2017.03.295
Go to original source...
- PEETERS, D.M.J., IRISARRI, F.X., GROENENDIJK, CH., RŮŽEK, R. (2019). Optimal design, manu-facturing and testing of non-conventional laminates. In: Composite Structures, Vol. 210, pp. 29-40, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2018.10.062
Go to original source...
- PENG, Z., RONGLEI, S., XUEYING, Z., LINGJIN, H. (2015). Placement suitability criteria of composite tape for mould surface in automated tape placement. In: Chinese Journal of Aeronautics, Vol. 28 Issue 5, pp. 1574-1581, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cja.2015.06.002
Go to original source...
- DIRK, H., LUKASZEWICZ, J.A., WARD, C., POTTER, K.D. (2012). The engineering aspects of automated prepreg layup: History, present and future. In: Composites Part B: Engineering, Vol. 43, Issue 3, pp 997-1009, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2011.12.003
Go to original source...
- VITA, A., CASTORANIA, V., GERMANIA, M., MARCONIB, M. (2019). Comparative life cycle assessment of low-pressure RTM, compression RTM and high-pressure RTM manufacturing processes to produce CFRP car hoods. In: Procedia CIRP, Vol. 80, pp. 352-357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2019.01.109
Go to original source...
- POTTER, K.D. (1999). The early history of the resin transfer moulding process for aerospace applications. In: Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, Vol. 30, Issue 5, pp. 619-621, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-835X(98)00179-1
Go to original source...
- TSERPES, K.I., RŮŽEK, R., PANTELAKIS, SP.G. (2013) Strength of Pi shaped non-crimp fabric adhesively bonded joints. In: Plastics, Rubber and Composites, Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 100-107. ISSN 1465-8011, https://doi.org/10.1179/1743289810Y.0000000036
Go to original source...
- KUPČÁK, R., ZOUHAR, J. (2020) Application of composite materials in sports optics. In: Manufacturing Technology, Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 200-209. ISSN 1213-2489, doi: 10.21062/mft.2020.038
Go to original source...
- SAAD, A., ECHCHELH, A., HATTABI, M., EL GANAOUI, M. (2012) Optimization of the cycle time in resin transfer molding process by numerical simulation. In: Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites. Vol. 31, No. 20, pp.1388-1399. https://doi.org/10.1177/0731684412458166
Go to original source...
- CINQUIN, J., VOILLAUME, H., STRÖHLEIN, T., RŮŽEK, R. (2010). Modular Joining of B-stage Cured Composite Element with Forming Process and Film Adhesive for Structural Application. In: Czech aerospace proceedings: journal for Czech aerospace research, No. 4, pp. 20-24. ALV / Association of the Aviation Manufacturers. ISSN 1211-877X.
- MAŇAS, L., RUSNÁKOVÁ, S., JAVOŘÍK, J., ŽALUDEK, M., FOJTL, L. (2019). Verification of mate-rial composition and manufacturing process of carbon fibre wheel. In: Manufacturing Technology, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 280-283. ISSN 1213-2489.
Go to original source...
- Ehinger, C., Reinhart, G. (2014). Robot-based automation system for the flexible preforming of single-layer cut-outs in composite industry. In: Prod. Eng. Res. Devel., Vol. 8, pp. 559-565. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11740-014-0546-y
Go to original source...
- A. Angerer, A., Ehinger, C., Hoffmann, A., Reif, W., Reinhart, G. (2011). Design of an automation system for preforming processes in aerospace industries. In: IEEE International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering, pp. 557-562, https://doi.org/10.1109/CASE.2011.6042411
Go to original source...
- Gerngross, T., Nieberl, D. (2016). Automated manufacturing of large, three-dimensional CFRP parts from dry textiles. In: CEAS Aeronaut. J., Vol. 7, pp. 241-257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13272-016-0184-5
Go to original source...
- Förster, F., Ballier, F., Coutandin, S., Defranceski, A., Fleischer, J. (2017). Manufacturing of Textile Pre-forms with an Intelligent Draping and Gripping System. In: Procedia CIRP, Vol. 66, pp. 39-44, ISSN 2212-8271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2017.03.370
Go to original source...
- VMECA. Needle gripper VHN110-12P. [online]. [2021-09-10]. https://pdf.directindustry.com/pdf/vmeca/vmeca-needle-gripper-vhn110-12p/15363-191956.html
- FESTO. Bernoulli gripper OGGB. [online]. [2021-09-10]. https://www.festo.com/media/pim/922/D15000100122922.PDF
- SCHMALZ. Pneumatic needle gripper with additional positioning needles and floating suction cup func-tion SNG-BV 10 1.2 V 100SF SBS-4POS. [online]. [2021-09-10]. https://pimmedia.schmalz.com/Dokumente/Bedienungsanleitung/10/1001/100129/10012900481/BAL_10.01.29.00481_en-EN_00.pdf
- SPECIFIC FAN POWER. https://en.wikipedia.org/ [online]. [2021-09-10]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_fan_power
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.