KraussMaffei has developed new technologies for fiber-reinforced lightweight construction, reducing cycle times, which is the result of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Research at the University of Sheffield, UK.
The Institute is keen to use KraussMaffei's new materials for the HP-RTM process (high pressure resin transfer molding). It is reported to be one of the most advanced and flexible HP-RTM processes available.
The head of the KraussMaffei Reaction Process Mechanical Development Department explained that 'the specific choice of the two dosing devices and the corresponding mixing head allows the resin system to be specially precisely mixed. This makes the system the first in all functions. A system with multiple mixing heads in the range to achieve a perfect cavity filling. Even highly reactive and fast-reacting materials (increasingly requiring HP-RTM processing) can be reliably processed.
With the processing of highly reactive matrix materials, composite materials and components with more complex geometries have new opportunities for development.
The research engineer Darren Weil of the institute commented: 'The curing time is critical here. Using highly reactive systems, they can be reduced to 3 minutes. In such a short period of time, they provide a huge opportunity for manufacturing. '
In addition to improved process technology and cost-effectiveness, KraussMaffei's new RimStar compact design. It is important to note that the injection and curing of the base material is carried out in one and the same mold, so that the quality of the parts is always maintained. High quality and high process reproducibility.