Integrated workcell for the investigation of thermoplastic composite production
Credit: DLR (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).
A flexible and thermostable robot on a linear axis may serve to load the hot press and investigate different production processes
The hot press is combined with an infrared heating system and equiped with a rapid transfer system to move the pre-heated organo sheets
The rapid transfer system can also be manually loaded with net shape organo sheets
The composite hot press in action: short cycles for complex structural components
Sine wave beam: crash-absorber for helicopter sub-floor configurations
Sine wave web after hot press molding
The Institute of Structures and Design (BT) operates three hot presses at its two sites in Augsburg and Stuttgart to investigate the production processes for structural components made of fibre-reinforced thermoplastics.
Hot press molding allows fast forming and consolidation of complex parts. In combination with the infrared heating system, short cycle times can be achieved based on the thermoforming of organo sheets.
In addition to thermoforming, the systems can also be used for variothermic consolidation of sheets and components. An integrated cooling system with water and airflow allow fast and homogenous cooling of the parts.
At DLR's Center for Lightweight Production Technology in Augsburg, the hot press is embedded in an integrated workcell, the so-called thermoplastic cell (TPZ), with a thermostable robot on a linear axis to investigate the entire process chain.
The characteristics of the hot presses are: