JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 51

robot SOLUTlONS
Focus
International Climbing Machines
Headquartered in Ithaca, N.Y., International Climbing Machines (ICM) was incorporated in April 2001 to provide focused
R&D effort to develop small, remote-controlled devices that
can climb vertical surfaces - particularly surfaces with bolt
heads, weld seams, plates, and other obstructions commonly
found in field conditions. These remote-controlled devices
can scale virtually any vertical or inverted surface, and because they are operated safely from the ground, they prevent
humans from being exposed to dangerous heights or toxins
in the environment. ICM's market-ready technology radically
alters how elevated height work is performed and is used
by public, private, and government organizations around the
world.
ALLRed
Headquartered in Ellbridge, N.Y. (west of Syracuse), ALLRed™
& Assoc., Inc. was formed in 1993 and today is a privately held,
diversified company that designs and manufactures complete
assemblies in carbon fibre-reinforced composite materials.
It also develops specialized components to enhance musical
instruments. Through its DragonPlate™ manufacturing services arm, ALLRed & Assoc. produces shapes and complex
structures using advanced composite materials in production
volumes ranging from a single prototype to tens-of-thousands
of units annually for customers in a wide range of industries
- often using proprietary processes and equipment. DragonPlate offers one of industry's broadest product lines of offthe-shelf carbon composite shapes and components.

ships and planes, wind turbines,
dams, and plants/refineries. As
a consequence, they keep humans from having to work in
cramped spaces or at dangerous
heights, or be exposed to toxins
like heavy metals or to radiological, chemical, biological, or
explosive agents. They can conduct non-destructive evaluation
(NDE) and testing (NDT), such
as checking stress cracks in dams
and bridges after an earthquake,
or evaluating coating thicknesses
on water tanks, or making minor
repairs to wind-turbine blades
without having to remove the
blades from their towers. If you
install brushes, abraders, or blast
media, the robots are ready to
remove lead paint or surface corrosion. Then, if you mount a pressure-fed roller or spray applicator,
the robots can repaint/recoat the
surfaces they just cleaned. Mr.
Maggio believes that the robots
will eventually become an important tool in emergency-response
situations to help people escape

burning buildings. At a cost range
of $60,000 to $75,000 USD before tools are installed, they also
are quite affordable, compared
with alternatives that are much
heavier and cost in in excess of $1
million USD.
To maintain versatility, it was
critical to keep robot weight with
tools installed under 60 pounds
(26 kg) to ensure a strong enough
vacuum pressure to maintain contact between robot and vertical or
overhead walls. Another early issue was that the aluminium-chassis ICM first used was actually
warping under the pressure of the
applied vacuum used to maintain
connection to vertical and overhead surfaces. Mr. Maggio and
his team turned to engineers at
Dragonplate to redesign the chassis. "The Dragonplate team was so
successful at taking weight out of the
chassis versus the aluminium system we had been using that I asked
them to redesign the superstructure,
which holds tools mounted to the
top of the robot and, eventually,

Chassis is produced in carbon fibre-reinforced epoxy composite by Dragonplate

the transition bar and the forward
hook, which connects the robot to its
tether should power be interrupted,"
recalls Maggio. "I always felt they
were rooting for us."
"We've really enjoyed working
on this innovative project as it's
evolved," recalls J.B. Allred, president, Allred & Assoc., Inc., which
owns DragonPlate. "Sam was very
focused and had a lot of experience
and understanding about what
he wanted to accomplish with his
robots. And we're pretty good at
working with people to help them
apply carbon-fibre composites to
their application. Our two teams
worked closely during the design
and development of each component to ensure the structural components were as light as possible but
could support the high loads. We've
continued to work closely to find
ways to refine the design to improve
performance and reduce cost."
Switching from
aluminium to carbon
Dragonplate technicians utilized
a variety of carbon-composite
materials and processes to produce the various components. All
parts are produced in carbon fibre-reinforced epoxy composite.
Some components are formed
using unidirectional, plain and
twill weave prepregs (all standard-modulus, 3K and 12K fibre
tows), which are vacuum-bag

N°132 January - February 2020

moulded or highly consolidated
via a heated hydraulic press to
make extremely strong and stiff
plates. The team also uses resin-transfer moulding (RTM) of
preforms and fabrications with
carbon-fibre braid. Owing to
the unique shapes of some of
the components, they are subsequently machined and bonded
with Dragonplate's stock shapes.
The "cannons" that form part of
the superstructure are one of the
most intricate assemblies, featuring complex cores that keep the
parts extremely stiff but lightweight. For key components of
the robot's structure, one of the
benefits of switching from aluminium to carbon composite is
that dimensions became more
repeatable and reproducible,
and the robots performed more
consistently. "When we used an
aluminium-framed chassis, it was
still early in our initial development
program and we wanted the flexibility to be able to adjust the design
quickly at that stage," explains Mr.
Maggio. "However, once past the
prototype stage, converting all the
key structural components to advanced composites really upped our
quality and consistency, and saved
us the time and trouble of having to
sort those issues out ourselves."
More information:
www.icm.cc
http://allredcorp.com

/ jec composites magazine

51


http://www.icm.cc http://www.allredcorp.com

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020

Cover
Edito
Moving composites forward: “This “cross-fertilization” is a strength that benefits our customers”
Contents
NEWS
In brief
Agenda
BUSINESS
Startup - Better understand your material and process with CellEQ
Thermoset - Global thermoset composites market - Industry analysis
China - COMAC is racing to fly the C919 in the buoyant regional aviation market
MANUFACTURING
Digitalisation - First online store for the design, ordering and automated manufacturing of composite laminates
Fabric - An NCF product for press moulding processes such as continuous compression moulding
NDT - Quality control of composites in the aerospace industry
NDT - Developing a non-destructive evaluation system in a collaboration with the University of Tokyo
FEATURE WIND ENERGY - Where will Wind Energy be in 2025?
Market - Strong pressure on the wind energy supply chain in a period of growth
Forecast - Wind energy outlook to 2023 – Energy targets for 2030 will be difficult to meet
Interview - Reliance’s vision towards contributing to renewable energy for lndia
Design - VAP® infusion-moulded carbon fibre spar caps
Maintenance - The wind energy industry on the path to maintenance-free systems
Glass fibre - Glass reinforced composites continue to redefine the possibility of wind energy
SOLUTIONS
Lightening - Hybrid lightweight suspension components for high-volume commercial vehicles
Robot - CFRP lower mass, improve reliability of climbing robots
Oil & Gas - Black fibre meets black gold
Aerospace - The market for ever lighter satellites is growing steadily
TECHNOLOGY
Curing agent - Replacing methylenedianiline with a ew blend in advanced composites
Inside the lab - University of Nottingham’s Composites Research Group
Recycling - New sizing formulation for recycled carbon fibres
Index
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JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Cover
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 2
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Edito
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Moving composites forward: “This “cross-fertilization” is a strength that benefits our customers”
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 5
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Contents
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 7
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - In brief
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 9
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Agenda
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 11
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Startup - Better understand your material and process with CellEQ
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 13
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 14
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Thermoset - Global thermoset composites market - Industry analysis
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - China - COMAC is racing to fly the C919 in the buoyant regional aviation market
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 17
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Digitalisation - First online store for the design, ordering and automated manufacturing of composite laminates
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 19
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 20
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 21
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Fabric - An NCF product for press moulding processes such as continuous compression moulding
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 23
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 24
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - NDT - Quality control of composites in the aerospace industry
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 26
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - NDT - Developing a non-destructive evaluation system in a collaboration with the University of Tokyo
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 28
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 29
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Market - Strong pressure on the wind energy supply chain in a period of growth
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 31
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 32
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Forecast - Wind energy outlook to 2023 – Energy targets for 2030 will be difficult to meet
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 34
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 35
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 36
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Interview - Reliance’s vision towards contributing to renewable energy for lndia
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 38
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Design - VAP® infusion-moulded carbon fibre spar caps
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 40
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Maintenance - The wind energy industry on the path to maintenance-free systems
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 42
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 43
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Glass fibre - Glass reinforced composites continue to redefine the possibility of wind energy
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 45
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 46
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Lightening - Hybrid lightweight suspension components for high-volume commercial vehicles
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 48
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 49
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Robot - CFRP lower mass, improve reliability of climbing robots
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 51
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Oil & Gas - Black fibre meets black gold
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 53
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Aerospace - The market for ever lighter satellites is growing steadily
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 55
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Curing agent - Replacing methylenedianiline with a ew blend in advanced composites
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 57
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 58
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 59
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Inside the lab - University of Nottingham’s Composites Research Group
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 61
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Recycling - New sizing formulation for recycled carbon fibres
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 63
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 64
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 65
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - Advertisers
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 67
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #132 - January/February 2020 - 68
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