At the Addcomposites facility in Finland, we have added the capability to perform tape winding. The main goal of this capability is to enable more pilot trials for manufacturers who are looking to validate the feasibility of production, or who just want to make something innovative to showcase to their customers/management on what they will be implemented in the near future.
Enable complex shapes and product trials
Pressure tanks for storage of hydrogen, propellants, or compressed air
Tubes/ Pipes: for water, oil & gas
Structural components: booms, housings, grid structures, interstage
Axis-asymmetric parts: Ducts,
Why implement tape winding over fiber winding?
Making tanks/tubes with the conventional fiber winding process has been around for a long time, but with tape winding designers and manufacturers are offered a new level of freedom to:
Use non-geodesic fiber orientations
Add local reinforcements for inserts, mounting points, etc
Produce liner-less tanks
Use more sustainable/reusable materials like thermoplastic composites
How to get started?
To simplify the process of approaching Addcomposites with the project proposals, we would suggest reaching out to either Pravin or James. Some prior information is always be useful, and whatever you share is protected by NDA:
CAD or drawing of the part
Layer and fiber orientation details
How much would it cost?
This capability was brought in to encourage the manufacturers to try their bold new ideas using tape winding, so in most cases, there will not be any charges for the initial study. But as we perform the pilot production, material and labor costs will need to be charged.
Where else can similar trials be conducted?
We rely heavily on our partner network to support composites trials and related activity. Presently SAM-XL and Compositadour are able to perform similar trials for you using a 7th rotational positioner. If you would like to offer your capability to better serve the local composites industry, please contact us.
About Addcomposites
Addcomposites is the provider of the Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) system, AFP-XS. The AFP system can be rented on a monthly basis to work with thermosets, thermoplastic, dry fiber placement, or in combination with 3d printers.
