Extrusion International 1-2018

17 Extrusion International 1/2018 MORE Turnkey Production Systems for High-Volume Production At the JEC World trade show 2018 on March 6-8, Dief- fenbacher will present its new solutions for the high-vol- ume production of fiber-reinforced plastic components at Stand C 31 in Hall 6. Dieffenbacher is a supplier of automated, turnkey pro- duction systems for the high-volume production of composite components. The production procedures pre- sented at JEC World enable shorter cycle times and more efficient production processes, making it possible to use large-series fiber-reinforced components in the automo- tive and aerospace industries. Three procedures are the stars of the show. Tape-Laying Process – Faster and more precise with the tailored blank line: With the tailored blank line using the Fiberforge and Fibercon systems, Dieffenbacher offers a solution for the large-series production of locally rein- forced thermoplastic components. In the first step, the Fiberforge produces near-net-shape composite lay-ups from unidirectional carbon fiber and/ or glass fiber pre-preg tapes. One laying cycle lasts about one second, making this system the fastest tape laying system in the world. After a laying pattern is defined, the tapes can be rolled off of coils and laid according to that pattern. The Fiberforge system can carry four of these coils. This makes it possible to mix different materials in one tape lay-up. Even the width and thickness of the tapes can be varied. With a new angle-cutting system, the start and end of the tape can be cut variably either straight or at an angle of plus or minus 45 degrees. Precise and near-net-shape tape laying reduces excess bleed cuttings. An automatic coil exchange system guarantees uninterrupted produc- tion. Dieffenbacher GmbH Maschinen- und Anlagenbau In the second step, Fibercon uses vacuum-assisted forming to form the tape lay-ups into a near-net-shape laminate. The Fibercon can process several lay-ups simultaneously and has impressively short cycle times. The vacuum-as- sisted forming system minimizes air pockets and material faults and reduces the level of oxidation, producing un- paralleled laminate quality. Together with downstream systems such as handling ro- bots and compression molds, the Fiberforge and Fibercon systems make it possible to produce more than one mil- lion components per year. New generation of CompressLite – Product design com- bines advanced technology with maximum profitability and efficiency: The new generation of the successful Com- pressLite press series offers improvements in many re- spects. Thanks to high speeds and short pressure build-up times, CompessLite has been optimally adapted to ther- moplastic processes. The newly developed control and vi- sualization of the CompressLite allows a comfortable and intuitive operation. The result is a modern product design that delivers the latest future-proof technology along with maximum profitability and efficiency. Fiberforge is the fastest tape laying system in the world: Within a mere second, the tapes are laid in a defined pattern New Dieffenbacher CompressLite