Vantico high temp SL technology helps Bell Helicopters minimise QA schedules

Citation

(2001), "Vantico high temp SL technology helps Bell Helicopters minimise QA schedules", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 73 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2001.12773fab.004

Vantico high temp SL technology helps Bell Helicopters minimise QA schedules

Vantico high temp SL technology helps Bell Helicopters minimise QA schedules

Keywords: Vantico, Tooling, Prototypes

Prototypes that are able to withstand high temperature environments are an extremely important aspect of product and quality testing and instrumental in bringing new designs to market.

So when Bell Helicopters needed prototype tooling that could withstand the temperature extremes of carbon fibre and polycarbonate vacuum moulding, they turned to Vantico's high temperature epoxy photopolymer, Cibatool SL5530 HT.

Originally developed in conjunction with business partner 3DSystems, SL 5530 HT is said to have outstanding functional test capabilities.

Designed specifically for use with 3D Systems' mid and large frame SLAS, SL 5530 HT is reported as being used successfully on a number of applications by Textron's Bell Helicopter Division.

"At our new product development centre, time is the critical issue", said Jim Connolly, senior test specialist at Bell Helicopters. "We have deadlines for getting helicopter parts out of the door and we also have to get them to the test facilities on time. If we miss our window of opportunity for a test, it might be a year or more before we can schedule another one".

A recent project at the new product development centre required Bell to build a glare-shield for head-impact testing on the Bell Augusta 609 Tiltrotor project. The shield was about 0.6m x 1.5m and it was to be made with a vacuum form tool. The project required nine different polycarbonate test specimens in three different thicknesses.

Bell began by downloading the CAD data for the mould to its 3D Systems SLA 5000 machine. The tool was generated from the high temperature SL5530 HT resin and used to form polycarbonate parts. Because of the heat involved in the mould process the tool had to be capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 200°C, along with high humidity.

"To build the glare-shield with conventional tooling would have taken six months to a year. Instead we finished this project in only two months", said Connolly. He added "We were also very impressed with the accuracy of the moulds built from SL5530 HT". The polymer exhibited good dimensional stability after the high temperature thermoforming cycles and held tolerances of ±0.8mm.

Since the success of the glare-shield project, Bell has now made seven additional tools including a composite lay-up mould. "The glare-shield took about two months because it was such a large part", explained Lane Evans, group engineer at the new product development centre, "but typically we can turn parts around in as little as two weeks. That quick turnaround makes all the difference in our business".

Further information about Vantico Adhesives and Tooling products can be found on the company's Web site: www.vantico.com Or more details are available from Kay Roberts, TOPS Dept, Tregartha Dinnie. E-mail: kay@tregartha-dinnie.co.uk