Skip to main content

Novel Robot-Based End-Effector Design for an Automated Preforming of Limb Carbon Fiber Textiles

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Future Trends in Production Engineering

Abstract

With respect to the proceeding shortage of fossil fuels there is a need to apply lightweight constructions especially in the transport sector. Due to their outstanding material properties the use of parts which are made from carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) has become more and more popular. Despite the advantages of carbon structures and its increasing relevance a further spread of this promising technology is limited by high production costs which are caused by intensive manual labor. In this paper a novel robot-based end-effector is presented which is able to replace the time consuming and error-prone preforming of dry carbon fiber textiles by an automated process. Based on the results of an intensive process analysis a novel multifunctional end-effector is designed, which integrates the functionalities gripping, draping and heating. For integration in the production environment and an estimation of cycle times the automation solution is simulated. The gained results of the realized end-effector on the industrial reference toolings show the feasibility of this approach.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

CAD:

Computer-aided design

CF:

Carbon fiber

CFRP:

Carbon fiber reinforced plastics

FRP:

Fiber reinforced plastics

NCF:

Non-crimped fabrics

Prepreg:

Preimpregnated composite materials

RTM:

Resin transfer molding

VAP:

Vacuum assisted process

VARI:

Vacuum assisted resin infusion

References

  1. Angerer, A.; Ehinger, C.; Hoffmann, A.; Reif, W.; Reinhart, G.; Strasser, G.: Automated cutting and handling of carbon fiber fabrics in aerospace industries. In: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers et al. (Hrsg.): IEEE Conference on Automation Science and Engineering (CASE), 2010. Piscataway, NJ: IEEE 2010, S. 861. ISBN: 978-1-4244-5447-1.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Brötje: Automatisiertes Handling von Faserverbundwerkstoffen. http://www.k-zeitung.de/home/technologie/werkstoffe/composites/news-detail/news/70/1269431520automatisiertes-handling-von-faserverbundwerkstoffen/ – 19. April 2010.

  3. Drechsler, K.: Automatisierung als Schlüssel für die kostengünstige Fertigung von Faserverbund-Leichtbaustrukturen im Flugzeug- und Automobilbau (Automatica 2008). München: 12.06.2008.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Drechsler, K.: Einführung in Werkstoffe und Fertigungstechnologien für Carbon Composites. Vorlesungsskript. Garching: 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ehrenstein, G. W.: Faserverbund-Kunststoffe. 2., völlig überarb. Aufl. München: Hanser 2006. ISBN: 978-3-446-22716-3.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Greb, C.; Schnabel, A.; Gries, T.; Kruse, F.: Development of new preforming processes for high performance fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) components. (Hrsg.): SAMPE Journal 2010, S. 42–51.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Gutsche, C.: Beitrag zur automatisierten Montage technischer Textilien (Techn. Univ., Diss. – Berlin, 1992.). München: Hanser 1993. ISBN: 3-446-17485-0. (Produktionstechnik - Berlin 115).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Henning, K.: Wirtschaftliche Herstellung von Faserverbundbauteilen mit Hilfe automatisiert hergestellter textiler Preforms. Aachen: Shaker 2008. ISBN: 978-3-832-27133-6. (Textiltechnik Bd. 14).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kleineberg, M.; Pabsch, A.; Herrmann, A. S.: Kostengünstige Faserverbundstrukturen – eine Frage neuer Produktionsansätze. http://www.dlr.de/fa/Portaldata/17/Resources/dokumente/publikationen/2000/03_herrmann.pdf – 11.08.2010.

  10. Kordi, M.; Husing, M.; Corves, B.: Development of a multifunctional robot end-effector system for automated manufacture of textile preforms. (Hrsg.): IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics 2007, S. 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Mitschang, P.; Beresheim, G.: Handbuch Verbundwerkstoffe. München: Hanser 2004. ISBN: 3-446-22041-0.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Reinhart, G.; Straßer, G.; Ehinger, C.: Highly Flexible Automated Manufacturing of Composite Structures Consisting of Limp Carbon Fibre Textiles. SAE International Journal of Aerospace 2 (2009) 2, S. 181–187.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Reyne, M.: Composite solutions. Paris: JEC publications DL 2006. ISBN: 2-9526276-0-6.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Schürmann, H.: Konstruieren mit Faser-Kunststoff-Verbunden. 2., bearbeitete und erweiterte Auflage. Aufl. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007. ISBN: 978-3-540-72189-5. (VDI-Buch).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Schutzrecht () 08.05.2003Schutzrecht DE 10152232 A1: Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum automatisierten handhaben von Harzmatten bei der Herstellung von SMC-Teilen.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Vdi 2221: Methodik zum Entwickeln und Konstruieren technischer Systeme und Produkte. Düsseldorf: Verein Deutscher Ingenieure 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Vdi 2860: Montage- und Handhabungstechnik. Handhabungsfunktionen, Montageeinrichtungen, Begriffe, Definitionen. Düsseldorf: VDI 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Verdenhalven, J.: Industrialization of the Carbon Composite Industry. In: SAMPE EUROPE Business Office and Scientific Committee of SAMPE EUROPE (Hrsg.): CFRP: The cost down solution for top performance 2008. ISBN: 978-3-9522677-8-3.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Wiedemann, M.: Status of application in airframe structures and future development process. In: National Agency for Finite Element Methods and Standards (Hrsg.): The analysis advantage: perspectives on engineering simulation for today and beyond. Glasgow: NAFEMS 2009. ISBN: 978-1-87437-642-2.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Ehinger .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Reinhart, G., Ehinger, C. (2013). Novel Robot-Based End-Effector Design for an Automated Preforming of Limb Carbon Fiber Textiles. In: Schuh, G., Neugebauer, R., Uhlmann, E. (eds) Future Trends in Production Engineering. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-24491-9_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-24491-9_14

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-24490-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-24491-9

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics