By Emma Kelly in Perth
Technology to produce parts at high speed moves closer as test programme expands
Australian technology company Quickstep has moved closer to adoption of its composite manufacturing process by the aerospace industry with the expansion of a testing programme with the UK's Spirit AeroSystems (Europe).
The Quickstep process allows the high-speed manufacture of composite parts in volumes and at a cost not previously achievable using conventional autoclave processing. Instead of an autoclave, it uses a lightweight rigid mould suspended in heat transfer liquids. Liquid circulates in a low-pressure environment with a flexible membrane maintaining constant pressure and heat on the mould to compact the laminate and cure the part, while vibration in the circulating liquid forces out trapped air and gases.
In 2004 the Perth, Western Australia-based company signed a deal with a UK consortium of aerospace universities and BAE Systems to establish a pilot plant for its composite manufacturing process at the University of Manchester. Spirit purchased BAE's Aerostructures division earlier this year and is supplying structures to Airbus, Boeing and Raytheon.
Quickstep has been producing sample parts for Spirit since March, and all have passed the company's specification requirements for autoclave-cured composite materials. The parts are being sent to an external test house for confirmation.
Additional parts will be produced and Quickstep has been tasked with reducing the processing time further, from 4h to 3h, compared with 8-12h for traditional autoclave manufacturing. The test programme is expected to be completed by November, after which costing and testing of demonstration aircraft parts is planned, says Chris Wilkinson, Spirit director of capability and engineering development.
Source: Flight International
