Mon, 22 July, 2024
We are pleased to announce the installation of a multi-mode filament winding cell at the Middlesbrough-based TWI Materials Integrity Centre.
The technology, which was supplied by composites technology company Cygnet Texkimp, will enable the development, validation and commercialisation of new composite materials and parts, including high-performance pressure vessels and pipes for the aerospace, nuclear and hydrogen markets.
The Materials Integrity Centre is a state-of-the-art laboratory and world-leading test facility, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, that provides specialist materials and engineering support.
The cell consists of a filament winding machine, driven fibre unwinding creel and pneumatic mandrel extraction technology. It can run in a number of modes and modified to accommodate different resins and materials, with an adaptable wet-out system and wet winding capability that allows for the trial and optimisation of new resin formulations.
The machine can wind four tows simultaneously, with each tow having its own tension control unit and dancer arm to regulate tension. This, coupled with a bespoke fibre handling and delivery system, enables accurate winding at higher tensions and speeds. The system is currently capable of winding dry fibres and towpregs at tensions in excess of 100 Newtons, but with simple modifications, and depending on the fibre being wound, it can be engineered to produce tension in the region of 200 to 300 Newtons.
TWI Polymers and Composite Services Section Manager, Amir Khamsehnezhad, said, “The filament winder is a key piece of equipment that will help TWI deliver research and manufacturing projects on composite pipes and tanks. The equipment is already playing a role as part of a bid for the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop SMART manufacturing technology.”
Gareth Davies, International Sales Manager at Cygnet Texkimp, spoke on the capabilities of the new system, “A crucial feature of this highly versatile, multi-mode winding cell is the ease with which it can be modified and customised by TWI, giving the organisation and its partners a very flexible resource to carry out effective product development and optimisation. As with all our machines, the way the fibres are handled and guided through the cell is critical to the quality and performance of the end product. Because this machine has been designed to look after the fibres throughout the process, TWI and its partners can achieve higher production speeds and fibre tensions, which in turn leads to lighter, thinner parts.”