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4 2 C O M P O S I T E S W O R L D . C O M New Products Large, 3-D part machining center Thermwood (Dale, Ind.) featured its Model 77 5-axis CNC machining center for large-scale composites applications. The M77 is specifcally de- veloped for three-dimensional machining. Its stationary table and high-wall enclosure was designed using advanced 3-D software, using fnite element analysis. All major weldments are stress-relieved to provide long-term sta- bility. Laser-calibrated to assure accurate absolute positioning and repeat- ability, it features full, 5-axis simultaneous motion, executes extremely large CAD-generated programs at high speed without pausing and self-performs automatic axis-alignment verifcation. Available in standard 5-ft by 10-ft (1.5m by 3m) and 10-ft by 10-ft formats, the center's table length can be increased on request in 5-ft increments to a 60-ft/18.3m maximum. www.thermwood.com Carbon fber, sized for thermoplastics Toho Tenax Europe GmbH (Wuppertal, Germany) talked about the impending launch of a Tenax carbon fber fla- ment yarn with a new tailored sizing for thermoplastic and high-temperature applica- tions. The commercialization of Tenax-E HTS45 P12 (12K, 800tex) and Tenax-E IMS65 P12 (24K, 830tex) is planned for 2014. Both types are compatible with polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfde (PPS), polyetherimide (PEI) and other high- temp thermoplastics as well as low-temperature polyamide-based systems (PPA, PA 12, PA 6, etc.). The P 12 sizing also allows low-viscosity and in- situ reacting thermoplastics to be combined with Tenax fber. Both fbers can be processed as woven fabrics, multiaxial fabrics, commingled yarn and 3-D fabrics, and are suitable for pultrusion and prepreg processes . www.tohotenax-eu.com Infusion pressure- control valve For resin infusion processes, DD|Compound (Ibbenbüren, Germany) of- fered its MTI valve, which addresses a common problem: Prior to infusion, the resin is at ambient pressure. When it enters the mold cavity during infusion, the vacuum compaction is released, resulting in a gradient of higher thickness and lower fber volume across the part from resin inlet to vacuum outlet. The Boeing Co. (Chicago, Ill.) developed the Controlled Atmospheric Pressure Resin Infusion (CAPRI) process to address this, us- ing an additional vacuum pump to reduce the pressure in the resin feed tank and thus reducing the pressure differential. The MTI valve reportedly accomplishes the same goal by simulating a calculated delta in pressure — e.g., 150 mbar for 55 percent fber volume fraction. The valve automati- cally shuts off when the pressure equalizes, based on these calculations. www.dd-compound.com New end mills for composites Cutting tool supplier Sandvik Coro- mant's (Sandviken, Sweden and Fair Lawn, N.J.) highlighted CoroMill Plura, a brazed end mill available in diameters of 6 to 18 mm, with internal cooling and 5° ramping ca- pability. The end mills feature a high- performance grade of PCD optimized for CFRP and developed by Sandvik to deliver maximum possible tool life and offer the potential for end mill reconditioning. For a typical 2-D surface machining application, the end mill design can permit cutting speeds ranging from 200 to 400 m/min (656 to 1,312 ft/min, with 0.03- to 0.06-mm/rev (0.001-inch to 0.002-inch/rev) feed rates for rough cutting, and an 0.02- to 0.04-mm/rev (0.0007-inch to 0.0015-inch) rate for fnishing operations. www.sandvik.coromant.com Commercial-grade carbon fber for thermoplastics SGL Group's (Wiesbaden, Germany) new Sigrafl C30 T050 TPI is sized specifcally for continuous reinforcement of thermoplastics. The 50K tow is designed for high interface performance, particularly with polyamide (PA), in PA 6, PA 11 and PA 12. Key benefts include high tensile strength and mechanical performance in thermoplastic matrices (this specially sized fber, tested in a PA 6 matrix, yielded a bending strength more than twice that possible with standard sizing — 113 MPa vs. 55 MPa). The product also de- livers low levels of twist/false twist, and the potential for low areal weight. Fiber forms include unidirectional tapes and organic sheets, long fber-rein- forced thermoplastics (LFTs), and hybrid yarns. www.sglgroup.com Fabrics for Class A surfaces, and more FORMAX (Leicester, U.K.) showcased fabrics designed to reinforce automo- tive composites. The aFORM line of specialized +45°/-45° materials ranges in weight from 150 to 300 g/m 2 and the fabrics are optimized for Class A surface fnishes. Alterna- tively, the company also offers the reFORM line, a variety of highly drape- able recycled materials produced from dry fabric waste. FORMAX also of- fers a Drape Simulation service that enables cus- tomers to optimize the performance of their fab- rics by identifying wrin- kling and resin permeability issues. FORMAX also announced that it now has the capability to lay multiaxial layers at low angles, ranging from 30° to as small as 22.5°. www.formax.co.uk 0614CT New Products-OK.indd 42 5/20/2014 8:57:44 AM