- Email: [email protected]
World's largest autoclave to be built in USA
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World’s largest autoclave to be built in USA THE LARGEST autoclave system in the world is to be built by ASC Process Systems, based in Sylmar, California, USA. The company has been selected by US aircraft manufacturer Vought Aircraft Industries Inc to build the autoclave system, which will provide a working area of 30 ft (9 m) diameter and 75 ft (23 m) in length. ASC says that the autoclave will be used to cure fuselage sections 47 and 48 of the Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner at the new 7E7 subassembly facility in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. The autoclave system will be constructed on site and is scheduled for completion in February 2006. Technology integrated into the autoclave will ensure that there is enough back-up in support systems and sensors to ensure part cure completion
should any aspect of the process go astray, ASC reports. These include multiple sensors and dual programmable logic controllers (PLC) units for immediate backup in case of primary system interruption. As well as this, ASC says that extra computers running the company’s CPC (Computerised Process Control) software will be available to provide back-up for all the vital autoclave operations, functions and data acquisition. The autoclave will also include multiple heating sources, a cooling system with dual water pumps and a secondary air circulation system to maintain autoclaved part uniformity and avoid single points of failure, ASC adds. Loyd Champion, ASC Process Systems; tel: +1-818-833-0088; email: loyd.champion@aschome. com; website: www.aschome.com.
Bonding fasteners can reduce production costs BONDING FASTENERS have been launched for direct bonding of a wide range of plastic composites. JET PRESS Ltd, based in Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire, UK, has developed the JETLOC fasteners and says that they can help reduce cost and save time because they enable encasement in most fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) with no need for drilling. All this can help speed up the production process in applications where load distributing anchorages are required, the company adds. Jet Press claims that the fasteners are particularly effective when fastening metal to plastic and are also suitable for direct bonding onto many surfaces,
including polyurethane (PU), using conventional adhesives or with the application of heat or pop rivet assembly through a perforated plate. JET PRESS Ltd; tel: +44-1623551-800; website: www.jetpress. com.
The new range of JETLOC bonding fasteners.
Software developed for rheometers
The Gemini Rheometer can be used with Malvern software.
CONTROL AND analysis software for rheometers has been updated by Malvern Instruments Ltd, based in Worcestershire, UK. Version 6.40 of its software for Bohlin rheometers is said to have many new features, including more flexible data analysis setup and automation, Malvern reports. The company adds that new analysis routines have been built into the software, including a new template program, improved model fitting capabilities, Time Temperature Superposition (TTS) analysis and new data manipulation programming. The rheometer software is available in English, French, German and Spanish language versions and operators can also add multiple analyses to the menus, Malvern says.
The company adds that the new multi-wave test mode involves the application of multiple frequencies for faster testing. This is said to be useful for studying rapidly changing systems, such as thermosetting resins. According to Malvern, the fitting and result reporting can now be improved by the automated determination of the best fit from a user-defined list of rheological models. The control and analysis software also includes an automated peak and valley determination program for any variable, together with statistical analysis of data sets. Alison Vines, Malvern Instruments Ltd; tel: +44-1684892456; fax: +44-1684-892789; e-mail: [email protected]; website: www.malvern.co.uk.
January 2005
REINFORCEDplastics
13
05/01/2005
14:53
Page 13
World’s largest autoclave to be built in USA THE LARGEST autoclave system in the world is to be built by ASC Process Systems, based in Sylmar, California, USA. The company has been selected by US aircraft manufacturer Vought Aircraft Industries Inc to build the autoclave system, which will provide a working area of 30 ft (9 m) diameter and 75 ft (23 m) in length. ASC says that the autoclave will be used to cure fuselage sections 47 and 48 of the Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner at the new 7E7 subassembly facility in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. The autoclave system will be constructed on site and is scheduled for completion in February 2006. Technology integrated into the autoclave will ensure that there is enough back-up in support systems and sensors to ensure part cure completion
should any aspect of the process go astray, ASC reports. These include multiple sensors and dual programmable logic controllers (PLC) units for immediate backup in case of primary system interruption. As well as this, ASC says that extra computers running the company’s CPC (Computerised Process Control) software will be available to provide back-up for all the vital autoclave operations, functions and data acquisition. The autoclave will also include multiple heating sources, a cooling system with dual water pumps and a secondary air circulation system to maintain autoclaved part uniformity and avoid single points of failure, ASC adds. Loyd Champion, ASC Process Systems; tel: +1-818-833-0088; email: loyd.champion@aschome. com; website: www.aschome.com.
Bonding fasteners can reduce production costs BONDING FASTENERS have been launched for direct bonding of a wide range of plastic composites. JET PRESS Ltd, based in Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire, UK, has developed the JETLOC fasteners and says that they can help reduce cost and save time because they enable encasement in most fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) with no need for drilling. All this can help speed up the production process in applications where load distributing anchorages are required, the company adds. Jet Press claims that the fasteners are particularly effective when fastening metal to plastic and are also suitable for direct bonding onto many surfaces,
including polyurethane (PU), using conventional adhesives or with the application of heat or pop rivet assembly through a perforated plate. JET PRESS Ltd; tel: +44-1623551-800; website: www.jetpress. com.
The new range of JETLOC bonding fasteners.
Software developed for rheometers
The Gemini Rheometer can be used with Malvern software.
CONTROL AND analysis software for rheometers has been updated by Malvern Instruments Ltd, based in Worcestershire, UK. Version 6.40 of its software for Bohlin rheometers is said to have many new features, including more flexible data analysis setup and automation, Malvern reports. The company adds that new analysis routines have been built into the software, including a new template program, improved model fitting capabilities, Time Temperature Superposition (TTS) analysis and new data manipulation programming. The rheometer software is available in English, French, German and Spanish language versions and operators can also add multiple analyses to the menus, Malvern says.
The company adds that the new multi-wave test mode involves the application of multiple frequencies for faster testing. This is said to be useful for studying rapidly changing systems, such as thermosetting resins. According to Malvern, the fitting and result reporting can now be improved by the automated determination of the best fit from a user-defined list of rheological models. The control and analysis software also includes an automated peak and valley determination program for any variable, together with statistical analysis of data sets. Alison Vines, Malvern Instruments Ltd; tel: +44-1684892456; fax: +44-1684-892789; e-mail: [email protected]; website: www.malvern.co.uk.
January 2005
REINFORCEDplastics
13