Automated diaphragm-forming-line for the processing of thermoplastic composites with reduced cycle time

摘要

Today fibre-reinforced thermoplastics (FRTPs) are processed with matched-metal die forming in series productions. For preliminary design studies, prototyping and small series productions this technique is too expensive. That is the reason why a diaphragm-forming line for the low-cost processing of FRTPs using the Non-Isothermal diaphragm-Forming (NIDF) process and reusable diaphragms has been developed. The production technology goes far beyond the production of prototypes and of single parts, since this newly developed mahcine is automated to a large extend. Due to the machine technology production is possible with only a positive or a negative tool. Compoentns with a wall thickness of less than 3 mm can be produced within three minutes, which is shown in this article. Optimising the production for thicker laminate products has the restraint that quikcer processing needs quicker cooling and creates warpage in the product. Beside the machine technique, resutls of investigations on components with a wall thickness of 5 mm made from glass-reinforced PP will be shwon, where the cycle time and the warpage of the component was minimised using the temperature gradient over the thickness as a comparison value. With the prototype of a production line using the NIDF process a cost saving production of prototypes and small series is possible.