Cygnet Texkimp unveils next generation prepreg slitting machine

Fibre handling and converting technology specialist, Cygnet Texkimp has unveiled a next-generation, production-scale prepreg tape slitting machine at its UK Innovation Centre.

The technology has been developed to support advances in automated fibre placement (AFP) and automated tape laying (ATL) applications for aerospace and other high-performance industries. Organisations can trial the slitting of continuous thermoset, thermoplastic and ceramic prepreg tapes in real-world conditions using their own materials or those produced on Cygnet Texkimp’s in-house R&D prepreg machines. The technology can slit tapes at speeds of up to 60m per minute, subject to the input material.

The move follows the sale of the company’s original demonstrator machine to a composite material manufacturer based in East Asia. The contract was won after a successful programme of trials using the customer’s prepreg materials to produce tapes for AFP applications in the aerospace market. The machine was subsequently upgraded by Cygnet Texkimp to retro fit in-process monitoring and data capture and allow the management of key data including tape width, thickness and consistency. In this way the customer can create digital passports for the slit tapes which can then be tracked in the downstream process.

Cygnet Texkimp’s prepreg tape slitting technology is typically used by materials producers to develop tapes for the high-rate production of composite parts, including large-scale parts, using AFP (automated fibre placement) and ATL (automatic tape laying). The technology allows manufacturers to integrate the slitting process into their own production environment rather than sub-contracting. Having the resources to convert prepreg onsite gives manufacturers complete control of production quality and speed and removes the need to ship or store materials, therefore enhancing efficiency and profitability. This is particularly important in the case of thermoset prepregs which have a limited shelf life and need to be stored in special conditions.

The new slitting machine features fibre and tape spooling banks provided by winding technology specialist SAHM from Eschwege, Germany, and is capable of processing intermediate materials including a polymer interleaf. SAHM’s 460XE compact and modular winders feature a low-maintenance, reliable design, capable of handling various bobbin types and winding materials with efficient product changes. The technology offers the flexibility to wind packages in a variety of formats including pineapple and cassette formations. The two companies have worked together for almost 50 years, since Cygnet Texkimp first became SAHM’s agent and reseller in the UK.