在AMRC建設中的6m直徑編織系統
英國大的徑向三軸編織器目前正在謝菲爾德大學先進制造研究中心安裝，以支持為汽車、航空航天和其他重量敏感行業開發復雜的輕型預制體。
由赫索格公司提供的設備是AMRC在航空航天技術研究所(ATI)資助下購買的先進設備的一部分。該設備將用于支持英國作為先進復合材料的地位。
巨大的6m直徑編織系統為采用干纖維技術制造復雜結構和特性鋪平了道路，提供了根據結構要求定制方向的能力，并允許以高體積制造所需的沉積速率同時鋪設離軸和軸向纖維。
廣泛的材料可用于徑向編織機，包括碳，熱塑性，玻璃，芳綸和混合拖曳。該編織機還能加工陶瓷纖維，如氧化鋁和碳化硅，否則將很難在常規編織機上加工。
它廣泛應用于航空航天、汽車等領域的零部件，幫助生產燃油管、機翼和眾多車體結構件。它還將支持DowtyPropeller的數百萬磅的數字推進項目，以開發未來的渦輪螺旋槳解決方案。
AMRC復合材料中心的干纖維開發經理Chris McHugh說：
“徑向元件是編織器的主要特征，因為它意味著較少的纖維損傷和更復雜的幾何形狀是可以實現的，因為纖維是在一個扁平的圓盤而不是一個長的圓錐體下來的。”這臺機器也是六軸，有兩個機器人.通常情況下，一個機器人被綁在編織器上，但是AMRC把兩個重型機器人放在編織環的兩側。這兩個六軸機器人串聯工作意味著沉重的零件和心軸可以處理，而不僅僅是泡沫芯。由于附加的支撐，它還能處理更精致或不太硬的核心。“
該技術向AMRC成員、外部公司和資助項目開放，可與AMRC的任何其他技術相結合，包括1000 T Rhodes Press和KraussMaffei RTM設備。
AMRC綜合中心顧問工程師Andy Smith補充道：
其優點是它可以與其他干法纖維技術相結合，因為AMRC擁有全過程鏈來生產零件，以顯示工業規模和大量生產。“
他說：“十多年前，綜合中心開辦時，AMRC曾考慮其中一款編織機，這是他們長久以來一直想要的技術，但當時并不適合市場，因為當時市場更多關注的是預釘前纖維，而非干性纖維。”
隨著這臺機器的安裝，編織機有潛力加工金屬或陶瓷基復合材料的精密陶瓷纖維，這些纖維具有較高的溫度性能和更高的硬度，適合于軍事應用。
編織者的到來之前，交付了一臺3D織機和提花機，目前正在復合材料中心建造中。其他尖端設備包括透壁透氣性測試、量身定制的纖維放置、高溫高壓長絲卷繞機、鋪絲束機和用于自動裝卸的機器人末端執行器。
它不僅將用于制造預制件，而且還將用于開發使其商業化的技術，包括連接、自動化和浸漬。
原文如下：
原文如下：
The largest radial triaxial braider in the UK is currently being installed at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre to support the development of complex lightweight preforms for automotive, aerospace and other weight sensitive industries.
A 6m diameter braiding system under construction at the AMRC
The equipment supplied by Herzog is part of a collection of state-of-the-art equipment purchased by the AMRC with funding from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI). The equipment will be used to bolster the UK’s position as world leader for advanced composites.
The giant 6m diameter braiding system paves the way for the development of manufacturing complex architectures and features with dry fibre technology, offering the ability to tailor orientations to suit structural requirements as well as allowing both off axis and axial fibres to be laid simultaneously at the deposition rates required for high volume manufacture.
A wide range of materials can be used with the radial braider including carbon, thermoplastic, glass, aramid and co-mingled tows. The braider is also capable of processing ceramic fibre such as alumina and silicon carbide which would otherwise be difficult to process on a conventional braiding machine.
It has widespread application for components used in aerospace and automotive, helping with the production of fuel pipes and wing spars and numerous car body structure parts. It will also be available to support Dowty Propeller’s multimillion pound Digital Propulsion project to develop future turboprop solutions.
Chris McHugh, Dry Fibre Development Manager at the AMRC Composite Centre, said:
“The radial element is a primary feature of the braider as it means less fibre damage and more complex geometry is achievable due to the fact the fibres come down in a flat disc rather than a long cone. The machine is also six-axis with two robots. Quite often one robot is attached to a braider but the AMRC are putting two heavy duty robots either side of the braiding ring. The two 6-axis robots working in tandem means heavy parts and mandrels can be processed and not just foam cores. It is also able to handle more delicate or less stiff cores, due to the additional support.”
The technology, which is open to research projects for AMRC members, external companies and grant funded projects, can be combined with any of the other technologies at the AMRC, including the 1000T Rhodes press and KraussMaffei RTM equipment.
Consultant engineer at the AMRC Composite Centre, Andy Smith, added:
“The advantage is it can be combined with other dry fibre technology as AMRC have the full process chain to generate parts to demonstrate industrial scale, high volume production.”
“The AMRC was considering one of these braiding machines over ten years ago when the Composite Centre was starting out, it is technology they have wanted for a long time but it didn’t suit the market at that time, which was focused more on prepeg rather than dry fibre.
“With the setup of this machine, the braider has the potential to process delicate ceramic fibres for metal or ceramic matrix composites which have higher temperature capabilities and higher stiffness - making them suitable for military applications.”
The braider’s arrival follows the delivery of a 3D weaving loom and Jacquard currently under construction at the composite centre. Other cutting edge equipment includes through-thickness permeability testing, tailored fibre placement, a high temperature-high tension filament winder, tow-spreading machine and robotic end effectors for automated handling.
It will be used not only to manufacture preforms but also to develop the enabling technology for commercialisation including joining, automation and impregnation.
