JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #109 - November/December 2016 - 45

robotization

Robotized cell for the production
of preforms from dry fibre materials
This innovation was developed to improve the manufacturing process of a composite component. Value was added by
integrating new functions such as intelligent automation and
pick, place & fold in a 3D shape.
Serge luquaiN
CEO
Techni-Modul Engineering

o meet composite manufacturers'
need for more and more automation,
Techni-Modul Engineering (TME)
developed a robotized cell for the production of preforms made of dry fibre materials, eliminating the need for operator intervention during the entire cycle.

Industrialization and potential
The development of the robotized preform
cell for dry materials started in March 2014.
The prototype cell was demonstrated during TME's Innovation Days in November
2015. The company is now adapting this
robotized preform cell to industrialization
functions. In 2016, the R&D stage was
continued, integrating the robotization of
prepreg materials.

Fig. 1: Fully-automated
robotized preform cell

The market potential involves all composite manufacturers willing to improve and
optimize the mass production of RTM or
prepreg components.

Key benefits
The preform robot cell was developed for
several reasons, first of all to reduce cycle
times as the aerospace and automotive industries are struggling to meet the production rates required for their current backlog.
Using the robot, cycle times can be reduced
by a factor of 2, 3 or 4 for certain part geometries compared to the former hand lay-up
process.
The robot also ensures quality and repeatability by eliminating all potential error risks,
whereas the manual process involves as many
chances for human errors as the number of
plies to lay up. The robot is programmed to
accurately pick, place and fold the plies at the
right place. Even an experienced operator can
sometimes be led into error by executing his
tasks quickly under time pressure.
Reliability is the third advantage of the system. TME wanted to design a reliable and
efficient system, able to control the fibre
orientation with a camera device to ensure
product quality. Thus, intelligent automation was introduced. Finally, as this solution
can also replace the human operator, it also
avoids potentially harmful repetitive movements.
More information:

No109 November - December 2016

www.techni-modul-engineering.eu

/ jec composites magazine

Feature Automation

Out-of-autoclave solution
TME opted for dry fibres as its main commitment is to offer out-of-autoclave solutions. The company designed and manufactured its first RTM mould in 1988 and
rapidly specialized in this manufacturing
process. Many RTM projects were carried
out since then, and the need to automate
this process soon emerged for different rea-

sons. A demand for robotized lay-up of preimpregnated materials was also identified,
so that TME is now studying of the handling of such prepreg materials once the
protection film is removed. Customized
automated solutions can be provided on a
bespoke basis taking into account the customer's constraints and specific requirements.

http://www.techni-modul-engineering.eu

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #109 - November/December 2016