The time-of-flight (TOF) method is commonly employed in many scientific experiments involving neutron scattering. Chopper discs are used in the neutron TOF technique: a pulsed monochromatic beam strikes the sample, and the energies of scattered neutrons are determined by their time of flight to an array of detectors. Chopper discs rotate around an axis parallel to the neutron beam, reaching speeds up to an operational speed of 22,000 rpm. To be able to increase the range of experiments of a time-of-flight spectrometer, larger and faster discs are required. Originally the disks were made of metal alloys, but as in the last decades, when higher speeds and larger diameters were required, fibre composites were preferred due to their high specific strength. The Institute of Lightweight Structures of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (Technische Universitat Munchen) has been producing and designing CFRP chopper discs for over a decade [1], specialising in faster and lighter designs with various aperture designs. This paper presents the general design of chopper disks as well as manufacturing issues that arise during production. The test results on five chopper disks that were manufactured using the same mould conclude the paper.
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