CompositesWorld

JUN 2017

CompositesWorld

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NEWS 13 CompositesWorld.com 3D Printed Tools for Falcon Dassault engineers also helped develop the computer-aided design tools used on its aircraft, which became CATIA and led to spinoff software company Dassault Systèmes. Bastien Carel and Gregory Hilbert, of Little Rock's composites engineering team, report that they are devel- oping 3D printed tools up to 4.6m in length for molding honeycomb-cored composite interior flat and curved panels, bulkheads and aircraft lavatory wall sections. Why 3D printing? Carel explains, "We are in a situation with high part variability and low volume," because jets receive customized interior layouts according to each customer's specs. "We're utilizing AM tooling as a complement to more traditional tooling. It's not a direct competition with metal tooling, but it can be more efficient in terms of time and cost." They use a Fortus 900mc, the largest production printer currently offered by Stratasys. Material is Ultem 1010 polyetherimide (PEI), with a T g of 216°C; raw materials are supplied by SABIC (Pittsfield, MA, US) to Stratasys to produce the final FDM filament. The tools, produced in tongue-in-groove segments, will be bonded with epoxy. Says Carel, "We are trying a near-net approach to minimize any issues with joining." That involves trials with post-cure machining to achieve tool desired surface, and sealers, to ensure vacuum integrity. The FDM tools meet requirements for dimensional accuracy, claims Carel, because parts are vacuum-bagged and oven-cured at 121°C. Test-part cure cycles, thus far, show "no visible flaws." BIZ BRIEF GE has completed the US$1.65 billion acquisition of Aarhus, Denmark-based LM Wind Power, developer and manufacturer of rotor blades for wind turbines. The completion of the transac- tion follows regulatory approval in the European Union, the US, China and Brazil. The transaction internalizes wind turbine blade design and manufacturing for GE's Renewable Energy business, reportedly improving its ability to increase energy output and create value for onshore and offshore wind farm customers. "The completion of the LM Wind Power acquisition provides us with the operational efficiencies necessary to support the growth of our wind turbine business, which is the fastest growing seg- ment of power generation," says Jérôme Pécresse, president and CEO of GE Renewable Energy. "With LM's technology and blade engineering, we are now able to improve the overall performance of our wind turbines, lowering the cost of electricity and increas- ing the value for our customers." LM Wind Power will be run as an individual operating unit within GE Renewable Energy, providing blades for both GE's onshore and offshore wind business units. LM Wind Power also will continue to supply blades to other turbine OEMs, with established protocols and safeguards to protect customers' confidential data. Five renowned companies known for their individual strengths united as one powerhouse – Unitech Aerospace. Together, we off er a broad range of capabilities including design, development, engineering, tooling, manufacturing, and life cycle support of composites, assemblies, and metallic fabrications. Let's create solutions. Together. Solutions. Together. www.unitech-aerospace.com COMPOSITES TOOL & MOLD UNITECH COMPOSITES PAUL FABRICATIONS TODS AEROSPACE TODS DEFENCE NORTH COAST AGC AeroComposites is now Unitech Aerospace.

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