Technologies meet designer's weight reduction goals
1 min read
Design engineers in the automotive, aerospace and marine sectors are working hard to reduce weight and cut costs by replacing metal with carbon and glass fibre composites. But there are two substantial manufacturing problems holding this strategy back.
In general the necessary fixings are heavy, designed for metals and according to one supplier are technically outdated. Lightweight continuous filament carbon fibre gearboxes and other structures cannot be made until a high volume and fast moulding process has been invented and commercialised. Global suppliers are searching for answers. Adhesion Technologies claims to have cracked both problems and has applied for patents on the solutions it has come up with.
The fixing system, currently going through the patent process, is up to 1275% stronger than bolts, welds, rivets and adhesives, according to developer Adhesion Technologies. And as added benefits, the Spida Fixing System can be made invisible to radar and also minimises aircraft lightning damage.
The company has also developed what it calls the Matrix Moulding System. Until the patents have been approved, details are scant but this technique can be used to manufacture carbon fibre gear boxes and structural parts that are 30% to 50% lighter than metal in minutes rather than hours.
