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AMRC builds composite robot
TECHNOLOGY
process at 25 8C. The component was then tested to evaluate its performance according to the EN45545-2 standard. The combination of Sicomin and 3A Composites products were tested for Class R1 for the manufacture of rail interiors such as ceilings, window frames and side walls
Reinforced Plastics Volume 61, Number 2 March/April 2017
and Class R7 for external parts such as body shell, walls and underframes. The foam sandwich panel achieved an overall fire hazard protection level of HL2. ‘This is a significant accomplishment for Sicomin and our long-standing supply partner, 3A Composites,’ said Philippe Marcovich,
president of Sicomin. ‘It is very rewarding to receive verification that our high-performance products perform successfully together to achieve exceptional standards in the rail industry.’ Sicomin; www.sicomin.com
New features offered on ribbon blenders TECHNOLOGY
New features are being offered on a range of ribbon blenders, which are used for rapid blending of dry powders, granules, pellets and other solid forms. The blenders, supplied by mixer specialist Charles Ross, can also mix paste-like materials and solid-liquid suspensions. Materials are blended by a horizontal agitator consisting of inner and outer helical ribbons within a U-shaped trough. The ribbons are pitched to move materials in a well-balanced axial and radial flow pattern.
Charles Ross says that model 42N-120SS is now equipped with a solid agitator shaft with ribbons having angled leading edges to prevent material build-up, scrapers welded to the spokes and ribbons, having a close tolerance (1/80 ) to the end walls and clear view polycarbonate on the cover and shaft guards. The cover can also include ports for ingredient additions, lights, spray system, venting and vacuum transfer. Model 42N-120SS is now equipped with a solid agitator shaft.
Charles Ross; www.mixers.com
AMRC builds composite robot Machining, composite and integrated manufacturing specialists at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) have built what is said to be the world’s first reconfigurable carbon composite robotic machine tool. The carbon composite robot project is part of the AMRC’s contribution to the Factory of the Aircraft Future project, backed by the Aerospace Technology Institute, which was established by the government and aerospace industry to sustain and grow an internationally competitive UK aerospace sector. The project brings together aerospace giant Airbus and system manufacturer Exechon who specialises in Parallel Kinematic Robots, to develop a new light weight and modular version manufactured and tested by AMRC. Most robots in industry today use serial linkage technology, where each additional axis is mounted on the previous one, with an end effector, which holds the tools the robot uses, on the final axis. Parallel
The reconfigurable carbon composite robotic machine tool built by the AMRC.
Kinematic Robots have the end effector mounted between two or more independently moveable arms, allowing movements in the in X, Y and Z directions to be made using three or more parallel axes.
Greater accuracy According to the organization, Parallel Kinematic Robots can move as flexibly in the same volume as robots with a single arm but with greater accuracy and stiffness, which
makes them more suitable for machining operations. ‘Making the structure modular and from composite means the robot can be dismantled and moved easily by two people,’ says Ben Morgan head of the AMRC’s Integrated Manufacturing Group (IMG). ‘Using composite also means that changes in temperature within a factory will have less of an effect on the robot’s accuracy than if it was entirely made of metal. ‘Potential applications include drilling and milling holes in wings faster and without having to make major investment in purpose-built machine tools, which cannot easily be moved.’ The AMRC’s Composite Centre made the bulk of the parts for the robot, its Machining Group and apprentices from its Training Centre made all the metal components and the Integrated Manufacturing Group has assembled and is running trials of the finished robot. AMRC; www.amrc.co.uk
Georgia Tech and Delta Air Lines working on composite repair Georgia Tech in the US reported that it is working with Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines on procedures for repairing composite parts used in aircraft. Delta is partnering with Georgia Tech to take a close look at current methods 80
used to repair composite parts and identify ways to increase efficiency and bring down costs. ‘Airlines want to create their own knowhow on how to fix these structures because it’s cheaper and probably faster,’ said Chuck
Zhang, a professor in the Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. ‘But improved technologies are needed to help in the repair of composite parts. Much of it today is done by hand.’ Georgia Tech; www.gatech.edu
process at 25 8C. The component was then tested to evaluate its performance according to the EN45545-2 standard. The combination of Sicomin and 3A Composites products were tested for Class R1 for the manufacture of rail interiors such as ceilings, window frames and side walls
Reinforced Plastics Volume 61, Number 2 March/April 2017
and Class R7 for external parts such as body shell, walls and underframes. The foam sandwich panel achieved an overall fire hazard protection level of HL2. ‘This is a significant accomplishment for Sicomin and our long-standing supply partner, 3A Composites,’ said Philippe Marcovich,
president of Sicomin. ‘It is very rewarding to receive verification that our high-performance products perform successfully together to achieve exceptional standards in the rail industry.’ Sicomin; www.sicomin.com
New features offered on ribbon blenders TECHNOLOGY
New features are being offered on a range of ribbon blenders, which are used for rapid blending of dry powders, granules, pellets and other solid forms. The blenders, supplied by mixer specialist Charles Ross, can also mix paste-like materials and solid-liquid suspensions. Materials are blended by a horizontal agitator consisting of inner and outer helical ribbons within a U-shaped trough. The ribbons are pitched to move materials in a well-balanced axial and radial flow pattern.
Charles Ross says that model 42N-120SS is now equipped with a solid agitator shaft with ribbons having angled leading edges to prevent material build-up, scrapers welded to the spokes and ribbons, having a close tolerance (1/80 ) to the end walls and clear view polycarbonate on the cover and shaft guards. The cover can also include ports for ingredient additions, lights, spray system, venting and vacuum transfer. Model 42N-120SS is now equipped with a solid agitator shaft.
Charles Ross; www.mixers.com
AMRC builds composite robot Machining, composite and integrated manufacturing specialists at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) have built what is said to be the world’s first reconfigurable carbon composite robotic machine tool. The carbon composite robot project is part of the AMRC’s contribution to the Factory of the Aircraft Future project, backed by the Aerospace Technology Institute, which was established by the government and aerospace industry to sustain and grow an internationally competitive UK aerospace sector. The project brings together aerospace giant Airbus and system manufacturer Exechon who specialises in Parallel Kinematic Robots, to develop a new light weight and modular version manufactured and tested by AMRC. Most robots in industry today use serial linkage technology, where each additional axis is mounted on the previous one, with an end effector, which holds the tools the robot uses, on the final axis. Parallel
The reconfigurable carbon composite robotic machine tool built by the AMRC.
Kinematic Robots have the end effector mounted between two or more independently moveable arms, allowing movements in the in X, Y and Z directions to be made using three or more parallel axes.
Greater accuracy According to the organization, Parallel Kinematic Robots can move as flexibly in the same volume as robots with a single arm but with greater accuracy and stiffness, which
makes them more suitable for machining operations. ‘Making the structure modular and from composite means the robot can be dismantled and moved easily by two people,’ says Ben Morgan head of the AMRC’s Integrated Manufacturing Group (IMG). ‘Using composite also means that changes in temperature within a factory will have less of an effect on the robot’s accuracy than if it was entirely made of metal. ‘Potential applications include drilling and milling holes in wings faster and without having to make major investment in purpose-built machine tools, which cannot easily be moved.’ The AMRC’s Composite Centre made the bulk of the parts for the robot, its Machining Group and apprentices from its Training Centre made all the metal components and the Integrated Manufacturing Group has assembled and is running trials of the finished robot. AMRC; www.amrc.co.uk
Georgia Tech and Delta Air Lines working on composite repair Georgia Tech in the US reported that it is working with Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines on procedures for repairing composite parts used in aircraft. Delta is partnering with Georgia Tech to take a close look at current methods 80
used to repair composite parts and identify ways to increase efficiency and bring down costs. ‘Airlines want to create their own knowhow on how to fix these structures because it’s cheaper and probably faster,’ said Chuck
Zhang, a professor in the Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. ‘But improved technologies are needed to help in the repair of composite parts. Much of it today is done by hand.’ Georgia Tech; www.gatech.edu