Starting from these premises, one of the first decisions to be taken in the call project was to choose the laying technology and the machine configuration. Taking into account the requirement for the ability to lay complex parts (a one-piece barrel and fuselage panels), as well as productivity and preparation rates and also after software layup simulations, the head configuration chosen was an AFP 8 x ¼” width tows. Regarding current AFP head ability to lay-up viscoelastic material, it was assumed that a new design development must be carried out so the first stages of the project were dedicated to the analysis of necessary modifications both in the design of the head and in the laying process trying to find suitable solutions.
After the first contact with the viscoelastic material manufacturer, it is reported that due to the characteristics of the material it is impossible to slit it into tows, being that necessary to be able to be laid in AFP head. Therefore, minimum width size must be 300mm and, consequently, it was necessary to rethink the initial strategy and assume that the automatic lay-up of the viscoelastic material must be carried out with alternatives technologies, such as ATL or others.
At this point the project got divided into two lines working in parallel, on one hand the investigation and development of the machine platform and the AFP head, as well as the auxiliary elements for the manufacturing process of the parts, agreed with Topic Manager, and second, a development project for the viscoelastic material automatic tape laying (ATL).
With regard to the support structure, the machine had to have the ability to lay female moulds, flat panels and barrel parts, and also fit in the customer facilities. As the machine was also part of a research project, it was assumed that the platform should be flexible to adapt to different moulds, strokes and head configurations A robotic CNC controlled Kuka robotic platform was the chosen solution to meet all the requirements, but there were some new developments to be done such as an external 6 axis robot, to accomplish with the dynamic requirements, an electrical connection system to reach the needed machine strokes, an automatic head change system. Also, even though a robotic platform is not as accurate and rigid as a gantry or column type machine, it can be upgraded through a positioning compensation software which had to be developed and tested during the project. The scope of the project included auxiliary equipment’s such an ultrasonic trimming system able to cut bevel angles, and also a probe system to self-check the machine positioning.
Regarding the moulds management, a new head and tail stand was designed, with the ability to place the mould in the floor trough a movable platform. The machine was also equipped with a test plate for layup calibration and laying tests.
As the automatic tape laying of the viscoelastic material is pending of further research, in the meantime it will be placed by hand so the project continues its development according to the planning, carrying on with the assembly and startup of the machine in MTorres facilities, in preparation for the pre-acceptance tests (PAT) with the customer, which took place in April 2018. Those trials consisted of an accuracy and positioning repeatability, as well as the manufacturing of flat and curved laminates, stringers and contours trimming.
Considering the positive results of all the tests, the MTorres AFP machine was installed and accepted by the Topic Manager at its plant
After acceptance, MTORRES helped Topic Manager to lay up the panels for the first demonstrator and trained its personnel on the use of the machine
All agreed mechanical tests for characterization of the material with the process were carried out by EURECAT
The results of the project started to be exploited by the partners, as MTORRES start to have new orders for the newly developed machine and, despite the COVID-19 there is a hope that in the next three years more orders will come in for the system developed in SMART-LAYUP.
In the case of EURECAT, the work carried out in the project allowed to achieve granting of other projects in the field of composites, as well as consultancy services for process development
In regard with Dissemination, activities were carried out in period 1 and 2, but in this third period it was not possible to do major events, since the planned one, the JEC WORLD 2020 was postponed to March 2021. It will be then there when final project results will be presented to the composite community.
