Mass production technologies for textile reinforcement structures

Abstract

This paper reports recent work on the optimisation of preform manufacture. Producing tailored textile semifinished parts, such as non-crimp fabrics (NCFs) with locally adjusted properties, and processing these in a sequence of automated cutting, handling and joining operations are a promising approach to significantly reduce costs and cycle times within preform production. Additionally, along with the enhancement of machinery, the development of simulation tools for designing efficient process chains and understanding the behaviour of reinforcement textiles along the entire production process is essential. The Institut fuer Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen follows this holistic approach, aiming at preforming processes suitable for mass production. In this paper, enhanced production technologies for tailored NCFs are described. Furthermore, an overview of automated technologies for converting these tailored NCFs to near net shape preforms is given. Methodical process chain development is shown in a case study, proving the possibility to significantly increase the operating efficiency of preform production by means of the introduced approach.