Automated manufacturing of large, three-dimensional CFRP parts from dry textiles

Abstract

At present, the manufacturing of large parts from carbon fiber reinforced plastic in aerospace is mostly done by manual labor. One of the objectives of The Center of Lightweight Production Technology in Augsburg, Germany, is to transfer manual production methods into automated processes. This work addresses the process chain starting with dry textiles, via production integrated quality assurance, to a cured part. A gripper system is required to handle the pliable and delicate dry carbon fiber textiles in the preforming process. The project aims to develop such a system and establish an automated application. A final demonstration of the system’s capabilities allows evaluation of the current level of maturity and usability. Sensor technology is to be integrated into the production process for quality assurance purposes. The position and draping of cut-pieces are determined by laser light section technique and fiber angle measurement. This allows detection of process parameters and potential deviations in the production chain. Corrections can be applied early, which offers a clear advantage over the current inspection of the finished component. Yet another focus is the enhancement of the setup for resin infusion. The application of a pre-tailored VAP membrane using a mechanized lay-up system allows for fast, robust and repeatable vacuum bagging with a significant reduction of manual labor. The presentation will give insight to the development of the gripper system, quality assurance measures, and semi-automated vacuum bagging including their current level of maturity.