JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #111 - March 2017 - Special JEC World - 83

JEC WORLD 2017

Wickert HTVH hydraulic presses
> Booth:
Wickert Hydraulic Presses (Landau, Germany), a Hall 5A - M 54
global manufacturer of custom hydraulic presses and systems for the
moulding industry, has developed a line of high-temperature vacuum
heating (HTVH) precision presses to help customers move out of
the autoclave (OoA). Aerospace and automotive suppliers looking to
meet the next production ramp cycle
challenges are adopting this system to
benefit from price reductions together
with manufacturing processes that can
deliver faster throughput cycles while
providing precise process quality. The
HTVH press has vacuum, heating, and
parallelism controls to offer superior
OoA results with faster turn times.

Multi-sector

> Booth:
Cutting tools for honeycomb
Hall 5A - P59
and composite machining
Evatec-tools is a cutting tools designer and manufacturer with high
expertise in composite and honeycomb machining tools. New
product developments were successfully achieved recently to propose valuable productivity improvements to customers.
The company's technical knowhow and full control of the
tungsten carbide manufacturing process enable it to propose
tungsten carbide tools where
high-speed steels are usually used
for composite and honeycomb
machining. The catalogue has now been completed with high-performance tungsten carbide hoggers that can be combined with the usual
tungsten carbide cutters. In terms of productivity, this new design improves machining conditions and tool life. The valve type cutter family
has also been completed. The small diameter tools usually proposed in
high-speed steel monoblock solutions are now available with combined
tools: a steel tool holder and an interchangeable tungsten carbide cutter with a diameter of 12.7 or 16.5mm. Customers can therefore reduce
their tool costs with longer tool life, while improving the cutting conditions on the machine.
www.evatec-tools.com

Multi-sector

> Booth:
The first robotic system
Hall 5A - P75
for composite surface finishing
Roboticom has developed the first robotic solution for all composite surface finishing needs: sanding, polishing and trimming of complex-shaped objects of any size. With its innovative technology, SandRob
makes it possible to vary the finishing results on the same part and to
sand the most difficult-to-reach areas. The
robotic system is equipped with in-house
designed robot simulator software, which
is very easy to learn and to use. Offline programming shortens the start-up time.
The results are repeatable and constant,
with significant time and cost reductions,
and they meet the highest quality requirements.
SandRob is very flexible as it works on different materials (composites, plastics, wood, metals, etc.) and it can be used in the surface finishing processes
of a wide range of industries, such as:
* Aerospace, transportation and automotive (spoilers, bumpers, car hoods/
bonnets, external structures, etc.);
* Furniture and design elements (doors, chairs, etc.);
* Shipbuilding (moulds, etc.);
* Renewable energy (wind blades, etc.);
* Fittings (mannequins, etc.).
It represents a real innovative alternative for the companies that want to bring
their surface finishing process from a traditional hand method to the highest
www.roboticom.it
technology level.

Tg and mould process monitoring sensor > Booth:
Twenco CME (Composite Manufacturing Hall 6 - A38
Equipment), the Netherlands, is introducing as a world-first a new
measurement technology that makes it possible to measure all the
changes during the production of a composite part, including parts
made of prepregs and carbon material.

While so far direct contact was needed between the sensor and the material, it is now possible to measure contactless and with higher resolution results than ever before.
The sensor can be integrated in the mould structure itself without disturbing the electrical heating system. For example, it can monitor without any contact all the changes in the resin infusion moulding process:

* Applying the vacuum (compression);
* Start of the infusion process;
* Resin flow arrival at the sensor;
* Resin travel speed and permeability;
* Vacuum reduction (decompression);
* Curing process from liquid to solid;
With a heat output of 2 x 50 kW, the * Final curing in relation to Tg.
maximum temperature of 425°C can be reached quickly from room temperature due to a focused heating area. Both heating plates are equipped with The sensor can be integrated in new or already built mould shells, under
6-zone temperature controls. The control accuracy of the heating system the surface. No direct contact with the product itself is necessary. The
is +1.0°C. The system can use shop air for lower cost. This HTVH system sensor/measured signal can also be integrated in the Twenco mould
is intended for producers of high-performance fibre composites, TS or TP heating system. The modular heating system can be scaled from a single
HPFCs (such as PPS, PEI or PEEK) or conductive polymers, including to an unlimited number of heating zones. It was specifically developed
structures made from TP pre-impregnated unidirectional fibre-reinforced for the composite industry, with high temperature safety and electrotape, or specialized plastic elastomeric components where high processing static discharge (ESD) protection.
temperatures and improved A/B surfaces are crucial regulating factors for
reliable properties. Wickert can assist in overall system planning, capacity cal- Knowing what happens during a process makes it possible to reduce
culations, and feasibility/operating cost studies.
production time, with a guaranteed Tg level.
www.wickert-presstech.de

www.Twenco.com

N 111 March 2017
o

/ jec composites magazine

http://www.evatec-tools.com http://www.roboticom.it http://www.Twenco.com http://www.wickert-presstech.de

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #111 - March 2017 - Special JEC World