AUTOMATED HIGH PRODUCTION OF WING BLADE COMPONENTS
Ideal for producing long flat parts, this multi-head Flat Charge Laminator from MAG lays down prepreg unidirectional tape, prepreg woven fabric and film/foil to produce a single variable-thickness laminate.
Posted: November 22, 2010
The Flat Charge Laminator (FCL) from MAG Industrial Automation Systems (Erlanger, KY) is designed for automated, high-production lay-up of composite spars, beams, stringers and similar parts for wind-blade manufacture. The highly repeatable system drastically reduces labor, while improving part quality, productivity and consistency.
With four heads dedicated to four different materials, the servo-controlled machine produces constant- or variable-thickness laminates on a segmented vacuum table, compacting the layers with a force of 13.6 kg to 136 kg (30 lb to 300 lb). The FCL handles 0/90 prepreg fabric, +/- 45 prepreg fabric, unidirectional tape and, as an option, foil or film. Maximum material width is 300 mm (12 in) on rolls up to 635 mm (25 in) diameter and weighing up to (150 lb).
The machine features four servo-controlled dispensing heads on a placement carriage that moves on rails integrated with the vacuum bed. The servo-powered placement carriage is driven by rack-and-pinion system.
A Siemens PLC precisely controls the entire process, with speed and position feedback from rotary and linear encoders on dispensing heads and placement carriage. The servo-driven supply reels are protected with a magnetic clutch override, and the backing paper take-up system is torque controlled. A stylus cutter cuts prepreg at 90 deg, without cutting the backing paper. The minimum course length is 300 mm (12 in), and multiple short courses can be put down on the same ply.
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