CompositesWorld
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NEWS 19 CompositesWorld.com Oshkosh 2017 When you get serious, upgrade to Anderson. If you're serious about your business, then you require a serious machine. Not a toy, a design tool, or a beta model that's the first of its kind being proven out and tested at your expense and your frustration on your shop floor. Since 1991, Anderson America has been satisfying the most demanding US customers with over 4500 CNC Router installations for Composites, Aluminum and Non Ferrous in North America. We exclusively use FANUC control systems matched with FANUC servos and electronics which have a 25 year parts availability guarantee. electronics which have a 25 year parts availability guarantee. 10710 Southern Loop Blvd. Pineville, North Carolina 28134 Ph.(704)-522-1823 Fx.(704)-522-0871 www.andersonamerica.com cost at US$140,000 (includes avionics and engine). Switchblade's aircraft parts of are built to FAR 23 standards. The wings fold up into a protective clam- shell while the vehicle is on the ground. Switchblade can reach more than 100 mph on the ground, and its top air speed is around 190 mph, with a cruise of 160 mph, and range of about 450 miles. Samson says 58 units have been pre-sold, and 200 people are on the reservation list. For more, visit samsonmotorworks.com. The Flyer was demonstrated by Kitty Hawk (Mountain View, CA, US) at the EAA Seaplane Base. A single-person, battery electric-powered "multicop- ter" designed to operate over fresh water, the Flyer requires no pilot certification, and the company says the amount of training required is minimal, according to an EAA press release. Kitty Hawk director of engineering Todd Reichart told EAA during the demos, "The motors can be made lighter than an equivalent gas-powered engine, but the batteries are certainly the biggest weight challenge." See the Flyer in action | www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMWh4W1C2PM. BIZ BRIEF Joseph Choma, the founder of Design Topology Lab (Atlanta, GA, US) and an architecture professor at Clemson University (Clem- son, SC, US), has developed a technique that allows him to create architectural structures by hand-folding fiberglass — a technique that he describes as simple as folding paper. By selectively coating resin on fiberglass cloth, parts can fold easily along the fabric hinges, says Choma in the article. Notably, the process doesn't require any molds or fasteners, which could mean lower production costs and less material waste. Choma believes the folding techniques he has developed could enable architects and engineers to design a variety of deployable structures, temporary shelters, flat-pack products, collapsible partitions, reusable packaging, and more. Choma was featured in Episode 9 of our CW Talks: The Composites Podcast series. Listen in at short.compositesworld.com/CWTalks-JC See a video of the folding process: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=FXCKsv99YeM or learn more at designtopology.com.