Fibrous aircraft parts

Citation

(1998), "Fibrous aircraft parts", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 70 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.1998.12770cab.036

Fibrous aircraft parts

Fibrous aircraft parts

Keywords Aircraft industry, Composite parts

Lightweight composite parts continue to make inroads, replacing metal components in aerospace applications. One of the latest potential substitutions of composite parts for metal parts is being explored by the Boeing Co., which is testing composite engine inlet cowls for its 747 and 767 commercial aircraft. These cowls were made by the Viper computerized-numerical-control fibre placement system (FPS) developed by Cincinnati Milacron, in Cincinnati, to manufacture highly contoured, fibre-reinforced epoxy parts.

The Viper FPS individually controls the paying out of composite strands, or tows, in parallel, forming a single band that is then heated and laminated onto a tool surface. Most of the Viper FPS output has been directed to the aerospace market, according to Randy Kappesser, product manager at Cincinnati Milacron.

"For example, we have used the Viper FPS to fabricate test parts and panels that are subjected to failure testing to prove out material qualities", Kappesser said.

The fibre placement system has also been used to create components for demonstrations, including sideskins and inlet ducts for military aircraft. On the application side, an upper tail cone made by the Viper FPS will be flying on the Comanche attack helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky, said Kappesser.

In the Boeing application, the Viper FPS was used to make four test cowls weighing 34lb, the first large parts made on the machine. The cowls were made by layering 20 fibre placed plies onto the mould, or mandrel, that measured 113in in diameter and 100in in length. "Manufacturing composite parts by fibre placement cuts costs, reduces cycle times, makes more durable parts, and provides consistent party quality", said Kappesser.