Recommendations for composite manufacturing pultrusion process and equipment
Abstract
Pultrusion is an important composite manufacturing process that holds great potential for reducing the cost of composite parts. However, pultrusion machine manufacturers and those using this continuous process have generally worked in relative isolation from each other and have, therefore, repeated many of the same errors. This paper reports the findings of a research program involving input from 15 pultruder manufacturers who have contributed non-proprietary information for the "best" design for the pultrusion machine. Key areas of design difficulty have been identified and some suggested remedies given. The results of this program will be used to construct a "state-of-the-art" pultrusion machine in the authors' laboratory. The initial findings provided input for a Quality Function Deployment (QFD) study which is basis for the functional specification for the pultrusion machine. By using QFD, capabilities of existing machines were determined and design requirements for an improved state-of-the-art machine were established. The QFD exercise provided an in-depth look at the relationship between desired machine capabilities and machine design requirements.
- Publication:
-
SAMPE Quarterly
- Pub Date:
- October 1992
- Bibcode:
- 1992SAMPQ..24...38S
- Keywords:
-
- Composite Materials;
- Functional Design Specifications;
- Hot Working;
- Pultrusion;
- Dies;
- Manufacturing;
- Numerical Control;
- Technology Assessment;
- Mechanical Engineering