Abstract
Hexagonal braiding method has the advantages of high shape compatibility, interlacing density and high volume fraction. Based on hexagonal braiding method, a hexagonal preform was braided. Then, by following the characteristics of repeatability and concentricity of hexagonal braided preform, the printed geometry structure was got in order to understand and optimize geometric structure to make it more compact like the braided geometric structure. Finally, the unit cells were defined with hexagonal prism to analyze the micro-geometric structure of hexagonal braided preform.
Highlights
Braiding is a traditional textile process that has found wide application for composite manufacturing for the unique characteristics of braided geometry structures such as high damage tolerance, high strength and stiffness, low-cost, reliability and reproducible netshaped preforms
Braided geometry structures are formed by Cartesian braiding and rotary braiding
In order to significantly increase the packing density and yarn carrier density of the braiding loom, the concept of hexagonal braiding was developed at AFML (Advanced Fibrous Materials Laboratory) of University of British Columbia
Summary
Braiding is a traditional textile process that has found wide application for composite manufacturing for the unique characteristics of braided geometry structures such as high damage tolerance, high strength and stiffness, low-cost, reliability and reproducible netshaped preforms. Instead of going through the laborious loom set-up and braiding process, 3D printing, typically Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), is a promising method to explore various design options and fabrication methods in the formation of complex objects, after designing the model in CAD software, the model is sliced into a number of layers in slicing software, and the 3D printer adds the materials layer by layer to fabricate the designed model. This will significantly reduce capital investment and production cost [5]. For printed braiding geometry structure, the most excellent characteristic is that the geometry structure is intuitive and can be easy to get, compared to the costly and complex braiding process on braiding looms
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
