JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #79 - March 2013 - 69

Multi-sector

SMART deformation monitoring grids and heating pocket

> Booth Y11

A fully-automated RTM
production line

> Booth M57

High-performance glass
twisting machine

> Booth S75

Oerlikon Saurer presents the Volkmann Glass Twister for the first
time at JEC. Developed in Europe, the Twister was initially introduced to the European and Chinese markets in 2005 as the universal
VGT-10 model and its further evolution, the VGT-11.
The VGT-9 model, with a narrower spindle gauge, is especially designed
for finer yarn counts under 11 tex. Thanks to a vibration-free ring bank
and a fine-tuned control of the yarn balloon tension, it can be operated at
spindle speeds 25% superior to other available machines.
All VGT models feature individually motor-driven, frequency inverter
controlled feeding baskets or capstans and take-up spindles with permanent monitoring through an interactive, central IPC ensuring a constant
This automated
yarn torsion.
RTM producThe perfectly balanced, encodertion line allows
controlled ring bank with inteincreased prograted spring weight compensaduction rates. In
tion allows accurate yarn guiding
this case, the cusand winding. As a result, the
tomer wants to
take-up package can be set-up for
reach a challengoptimum unwinding properties
ing goal of 100,000 parts/year. The production paramedepending on the subsequent
ters are monitored, controlled and recorded for each part,
process.
therefore improving production quality, and production
The unique modular design with
costs are reduced. The RTM production line has been set
pre-assembled sections ensures
up in the DLR’s Centre for Lightweight Production Techimmediate, reliable operation
nology in Stade. It could be a solution to broaden the use on the mill floor and short erection times. The Volkmann Glass Twister
of composites in the industry, open up new markets and
can be adapted either to single yarn up-twisting or multi-ply assembling
meet high-volume requirements (aerospace, automotive). and twisting, and can process all current glass fibre types as well as basalt
www.compose-tools.com fibres in a wide range of counts.
www.oerlikon.com
Multi-sector

Further to the JEC 2011 show, Compose and its
partners, Isojet and Pinette Emidecau, bid for a German public tendering for an aerospace R&D project
led by DLR. The customer wanted to prove the feasibility
of manufacturing complex net-shape parts in high volume using the RTM process. Compose and its partners
submitted a bespoken design for a fully-automated RTM
production line. The offer included a RTM mould, a
hot-platen press, an injection system, a venting system, a
robot, a preparing station and the transfer system.

Multi-sector

Tibtech is widening its offer of electro-heating yarns and grids for composites with the development of
smart captor grids that can be used as surface captors to monitor structural deformation of composite
parts.
The Tibtech flexible smart grid structure can be added on the surface or, better, inserted in between different reinforcement layers of a composite. They allow direct integrated measurement of surface deformation within the structure in functional conditions. The grid integrates a newly developed yarn deformation
captor whose resistivity changes according to its elongation. Although Tibtech is not supplying directly
the electronic device for signal processing, a second integration of the output signal could be very useful to
monitor the periodic deformation within a composite part submitted to vibrations strain, in wind blades
or a boat mast, for example. Long-term structural fatigue effects could also be monitored using this promising technique.
Tibtech will also present its new flexible heating pocket concept designed for composite processing without oven. Working temperature conditions can range from 80°C to 160°C or even 180°C. The company has specially developed a vacuum heating pocket where
heating can be associated to vacuum conditions. The high flexibility and versatility of the heating pockets make it possible to work
with different composite part dimensions. Avoiding the use of an oven, this technique also saves a lot of space as the pockets can be
folded after use.
www.tibtech.com

VAC-RIC HT & LT, new resin infusion connectors

> Booth M64

Airtech’s new high- and low-temperature resin infusion connectors, VAC-RIC HT and VAC-RIC
LT, provide inexpensive and efficient through-bag connection for vacuum manifold and resin feed
lines for high temperature resin infusion applications. Their flat base was designed to be easily
placed on the top of the Resintrak or Vactrak tapes. They are also suitable for use with the Dahlpac
MC79 vacuum breather pad.
www.airtech.lu
No79 March 2013 /

jec composites magazine 69

http://www.tibtech.com http://www.compose-tools.com http://www.oerlikon.com http://www.airtech.lu

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #79 - March 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #79 - March 2013