NIAR selected Composite Automation and Mikrosam to deliver a single-step slitting unit to facilitate its need to perform research on variety of composite prepregs in the Advanced Technologies Laboratory for Aerospace Systems (ATLAS). ATLAS is a multi-disciplinary manufacturing environment aimed at preparing engineers for the Factory of the Future and aiding industry with advanced material research with automated manufacturing technologies.
“With the addition of Mikrosam slitter to our portfolio of automated manufacturing equipment, we are able to support the demand from multiple automated fibre placement machines at NIAR – conducting research in a timely manner and supporting our industry partners’ slit-tape material needs,” said Dr Waruna Seneviratne, ATLAS director. "The integrated in-process inspection system and the machine-learning algorithm for detecting defects allows us to perform quality control on the fly.”
The prepreg slitting equipment from Mikrosam is a single-step process for slitting of unidirectional thermoset and thermoplastic prepreg tapes and rewinding them on multiple station traverse winders. The equipment is dedicated to slit prepreg tape from maximum width of 24.5” (600mm) down to 0.25” – 0.5” (6.35mm – 12.7mm) and then rewind on a spool that can be used for automated fibre placement (AFP). It can also be used for slitting down to 3” – 6” (75mm – 150mm) wide tapes on a spool that can be directly used on automated tape laying (ATL) processes.
Mikrosam says it offers one of the most cost-competitive and advanced prepreg slitting and rewinding units on the market. These units are ideal for operations in which customers demand flexibility in the quantity and types of slit and re-wound prepreg tapes. This innovative machine will facilitate NIAR's research goals with several key benefits, such as:
John Melilli, president of Composite Automation added: “NIAR’s ATLAS is the only fully-integrated facility that can perform the comprehensive composites manufacturing research that OEMs and tiered suppliers demand in order to reduce risk. Composite Automation is honoured to be part of the team.”