1999 / Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings
PREV and NEXT link to numerically adjacent references for this YEAR.
CONTENTS links to the title list for this YEAR's references.
Author Donald Klosterman, Richard Chartoff, Mukesh Agarwala, Ira Fiscus, John Murphy, Sean Cullen, Mark Yeazell, University of Dayton
Source Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings, 1999, pp 401-410
Abstract This report describes the application of Curved LOM to the direct fabrication of polymer matrix composites (PMCs). The overall methodology of directly fabricating PMC parts involved the use of the Curved LOM machine to lay-up and shape "green" composite laminates from prepreg feedstocks, followed by vacuum bag / oven cure and consolidation. The conventional Curved LOM laminator was replaced with a vacuum thermoforming apparatus to better accommodate the bonding of commercially available prepregs. The study also demonstrated that it is possible to interface a general composite design software package with the Curved LOM machine via the curved slice file (.CSF) format. Taken together, these two improvements allow for improved flexibility in manufacturing PMC components, from both a material handling and a design point-of-view. A simple C-shaped panel was fabricated and tested to demonstrate the overall feasibility of the process for PMCs. A glass fiber / epoxy prepreg obtained from a commercial supplier was used as a model material system. It was found that the cumulative accuracy of the overall process was good, and the mechanical properties of the laminates were acceptable for non- structural applications for which the material is normally used. (Auth abstract) [References: 13]
Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings can be obtained from: The Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium
or contact:
The University of Texas at Austin
Laboratory for Freeform Fabrication / Texas Materials Institute
Mechanical Engineering Dept.
c/o The Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium
MC C2200
Austin, TX 78712-1063 USA
512-471-3026; 512-471-7681 FX; Email: sffsymp@uts.cc.utexas.edu