Trade.Information

Product Name: Engineering Services :filament winding technology

Product Description

Filament winding is one of the most efficient methods of producing components made of fiber reinforced plastics (composites). To exploit the full potential of this modern material and produce the components economically at the same time requires a high level skill and experience.

Material's engineering services provide you with the deciding edge. Material looks back on many years of world wide experience and insights in hundreds of different applications in the field of filament winding.

In many cases only a part of our services will be interesting for you. Please feel free to contact us. We will analyse your requirements exactly and supply you with a tailor-made solution. In any case we guarantee that you will achieve decisive improvements and cost reductions.
Composite design
Composite component design and optimization
The designing of components made of fibre reinforced plastics requires a lot of experience and know how. Unlike other manufacturing methods such as metal processing the actual material will only appear in the production stage of the intended product. In order to exploit the full potential of the material a suitable design is the deciding factor.
The following parameters have to be adjusted to each other: component geometry, fibre and matrix material, laminate structure and windability. Naturally profitability of the production always has to be taken into account.
Since fiber and matrix material determine the characteristics and the price of the component, the proper choice of material is crucial. Also with production already in progress, the quality of the product can be improved and cost reduced considerably just by replacing the material. However, the selection of the most suitable material from the wide variety available world wide often poses a problem. MATERIAL uses its own up to date material database so that your new components can be designed in the best possible way or your existing product improved.
Based on the performance specifications, the next step is to calculate the laminate structure (number and winding angles of the different layers). To this purpose MATERIAL uses analytical laminate calculation programs and finite element analysis software (FEA software).
Prototyping
The design phase includes manufacturing of prototypes. This can be done at our winding laboratory or on-site at your facilities. We take particular care to find a fast solution at a reasonable price. This is achieved mainly through a suitable mandrel design.
MATERIAL's services also include the testing of prototypes according to your specifications. If required this can be carried out by an independent internationally recognised testing institution

Production

Production planning
At the beginning is your product concept. MATERIAL realizes your idea. We carry out complete production planning for you. First we draw up performance specifications appropriate to the material in question (component function, shape, surface, corrosion and temperature resistance, load bearing capacity, product life, production volume, cost, environmental impact, standards, ...). Then we analyse the feasibility and calculate the production cost percomponent. This includes the clarification of questions like production cycle time, type and number of needed mandrels, type and number of machines size of labour force or optimal exploitation of available resources.
Dimensioning of filament winding machinery
We will gladly assist you in selecting your filament winding machinery and peripheral accessories. Our experience and our skill at quick problem analysis with the help of the process simulation system CADWIND allows us to calculate the optimal machine configuration (number, velocities and accelerations of the axes, type ofcontroller) for your intended range of products. For example an inefficiently dimensioned pay out rotation axis can slow down the whole production process considerably, even if only used in the turning zones. It will be to your advantage to talk to us before investing in filament winding machinery.
Technology transfer

Training courses
Filament winding is a highly specialised technology. Therefore MATERIAL offers special training programs according to your needs. These can take place at your company or at our own filament winding laboratory. The topics cover all levels and questions concerning filament winding technology.

Research projects
MATERIAL can act as your partner for national and international research projects. In the field of new developments it is common to obtain sponsorship, particularly when working with advanced materials. Besides the technical assistance we can provide the application for sponsorship as well as finding additional partners.

Filament winding laboratory
MATERIAL's winding laboratory and training center:

350 m2 / 3,800 sq. ft winding laboratory
fully computer controlled 4 axes filament winding machine (max. mandrel length: 9 m / 30 ft, max. mandrel diameter: 1.5 m / 5 ft)
controlled fiber tensioning system for up to 12 rovings or tapes
winding with up to 60 rovings (center pull)
heated resin bath
equipment for thermoplastic winding and UV curing
programmable curing oven
hydraulic mandrel extractor for all lengths and diameters
hand lay-up workshop
model construction workshop
possibilities for static and dynamic testing
seminar room for up to 40 people
Software:

MiniCAD 2D/3D (computer aided design CAD)
NISA II / DISPLAY III (finite element analysis (FEA) with specialization on composite materials)
CompositePro (design and analysis (D&A;) for composite materials)
3D Prop (calculation of three dimensional unidirectional and laminate material properties of composite materials)
CADWIND (process simulation system for filament winding technology)
LabVIEW (programmable data acquisition and analysis software)
MATERIAL's database of fibers, resins and other materials as well as raw material suppliers and winding equipment manufacturers world-wide

Computer platforms:

Apple Power Macintosh
Pentium PC with MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 98 and Windows NT

Company Details

MATERIAL's software system CADWIND has been the industry's standard for filament winding technology for more then 10 years. In 2000 MATERIAL started development of Composite Star, a database and design software which will be released in spring... more