Skip to content
  • Newsletter
  • About us
  • Contact
  • DE
  • EN
  • Newsletter
  • About us
  • Contact
  • DE
  • EN
  • Overview
  • Research
  • Here & now
  • Smart minds
  • Overview
  • Research
  • Here & now
  • Smart minds
  • Overview
  • Research
  • Here & now
  • Smart minds
  • Contact
  • Newsletter
  • About us
  • Overview
  • Research
  • Here & now
  • Smart minds
  • Contact
  • Newsletter
  • About us
Search
  • DE
  • EN
29. May 2017

Mass production of lightweight composite parts

match | In motorsports, ultra lightweight vehicle body components made of organosheets are already in use. But for now, they are not applicable to large-batch production, since state-of-the-art robots used in the production process are not yet able to handle the dimensionally unstable material. To cope with this drawback, match does research on a novel gripping technology.

New materials require new production technologies – this is the reason why researchers participating in the joint research project ProVorPlus want to advance established technologies in order to facilitate automated large-batch production of so-called organosheets.
Organosheets are fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP): They consist of pre-impregnated glass or carbon fibre composite which is molten depending on the processing step and formed into a new shape. The problem: Whenever heated, the organosheet loses its stiffness and gets dimensionally unstable. Conventional robots can then neither grip nor position the unstable material. For this reason, series production has not been possible so far.
The Institute of Assembly Technology (match) of Leibniz Universität Hannover is developing a new technology allowing processing and handling of organosheets at various temperatures, states of aggregation and geometries. In this connection, the focus is on short cycle times and efficient production. 

by Christopher Bruns

Significance for the production

  • Efficient processing technology for fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP)
  • Automated handling of warm and dimensionally unstable semi-finished products
  • Specific gripping technology prevents fibre fractures and buckle formation
match_Faserverbundfertigung_Bild1_01
Prototype: This robot can handle dimensionally unstable organosheets. (Photo: match)
match_Faserverbundfertigung_Bild2_EN
First forming, then injection moulding: production process for a battery tray. (Photo: match, IFUM)
match_Faserverbundfertigung_Bild3_EN
Handling: four steps from a plain organosheet to a complex component. (Photo: match)
match_Faserverbundfertigung_Bild4_EN
The gripper (right) positions the organosheet on the forming tool (left). (Photo: match)

Contact

Christopher Bruns

+49(0)511 762-18247
bruns@match.uni-hannover.de
www.match.uni-hannover.de

This Page

drucken

recommend

  • tweet 

This Page

drucken

recommend

  • tweet 

ISSN 2198-1922 | Legal Information | Privacy notice | Article Sitemap