由赫索格公司提供的设备是AMRC在航空航天技术研究所(ATI)资助下购买的先进设备的一部分。该设备将用于支持英国作为先进复合材料的地位。
巨大的6m直径编织系统为采用干纤维技术制造复杂结构和特性铺平了道路，提供了根据结构要求定制方向的能力，并允许以高体积制造所需的沉积速率同时铺设离轴和轴向纤维。
广泛的材料可用于径向编织机，包括碳，热塑性，玻璃，芳纶和混合拖曳。该编织机还能加工陶瓷纤维，如氧化铝和碳化硅，否则将很难在常规编织机上加工。
它广泛应用于航空航天、汽车等领域的零部件，帮助生产燃油管、机翼和众多车体结构件。它还将支持DowtyPropeller的数百万磅的数字推进项目，以开发未来的涡轮螺旋桨解决方案。
AMRC复合材料中心的干纤维开发经理Chris McHugh说：
“径向元件是编织器的主要特征，因为它意味着较少的纤维损伤和更复杂的几何形状是可以实现的，因为纤维是在一个扁平的圆盘而不是一个长的圆锥体下来的。”这台机器也是六轴，有两个机器人.通常情况下，一个机器人被绑在编织器上，但是AMRC把两个重型机器人放在编织环的两侧。这两个六轴机器人串联工作意味着沉重的零件和心轴可以处理，而不仅仅是泡沫芯。由于附加的支撑，它还能处理更精致或不太硬的核心。“
该技术向AMRC成员、外部公司和资助项目开放，可与AMRC的任何其他技术相结合，包括1000 T Rhodes Press和KraussMaffei RTM设备。
AMRC综合中心顾问工程师Andy Smith补充道：
其优点是它可以与其他干法纤维技术相结合，因为AMRC拥有全过程链来生产零件，以显示工业规模和大量生产。“
他说：“十多年前，综合中心开办时，AMRC曾考虑其中一款编织机，这是他们长久以来一直想要的技术，但当时并不适合市场，因为当时市场更多关注的是预钉前纤维，而非干性纤维。”
随着这台机器的安装，编织机有潜力加工金属或陶瓷基复合材料的精密陶瓷纤维，这些纤维具有较高的温度性能和更高的硬度，适合于军事应用。
编织者的到来之前，交付了一台3D织机和提花机，目前正在复合材料中心建造中。其他尖端设备包括透壁透气性测试、量身定制的纤维放置、高温高压长丝卷绕机、铺丝束机和用于自动装卸的机器人末端执行器。
它不仅将用于制造预制件，而且还将用于开发使其商业化的技术，包括连接、自动化和浸渍。
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.