Applicability Investigation of Adaptive Tooling Technology for an Automated Manufacturing Process for Multi-Curved Truss Structures
The Institute of Aircraft Design (IFB) has investigated the applicability of adaptive mould technology from Adapa A/S (Aalborg, Denmark) for the manufacturing of complex multi-curved truss structures as a technology basis for automated robotic manufacturing processes in the construction industry.
Image: IFB
As a demonstrator geometry, the self-supporting truss was produced from pre-impregnated fibre bundles (towpregs). The component will be used as a roof structure for a demountable lightweight pavilion using fibre-based joining technology in combination with short-fibre reinforced 3D printing.
Image: IFB
Flexible adaptation of the mould to the respective surface to be manufactured enables automated production of individual load-path optimised composite structures, resulting from the membrane architecture, while reducing production time as well as material and tooling costs. Future research in the area of combining fibre deposition and winding technology offers the potential of a highly automated continuous composite manufacturing method.
Image: IFB
Furthermore, the control of the mould based on the 3D architecture enables new design potentials, as well as an optimisation of the robot control and prediction of mechanical and material properties of the final structures via simulations.