Advancements in braided materials technology

摘要

Until now, the automated material processes used to manufacture large, composite aerospace structures have been filament winding, automated tape layup, and fiber placement. An overview of the advancements in braided preform architectures and braiding machinery identify braiding as an attractive process alternative for composite manufacturers. State-of-the-art braiding equipment incorporates fully automated control over all braiding parameters, including translational and rotational control of the mandrel, a vision system for real-time inspection, a laser projection system and integrated circumferential winding. These technological advancements, in addition to the high rate of material deposition found with braiding approach the precision demonstrated by fiber placement systems and the cost efficiency found in filament winding and is applicable to the manufacture of large scale, structural preforms.