CIACP
CONSORTIUM FOR IMPROVING/INTEGRATING ADVANCED COMPOSITES PROCESSES

 CURRENT LIST OF COLLABORATING COMPANIES/LINKS:

DIRECTORY - AREAS of EMPHASIS

AGFM Corp., Chesapeake, VA, and Other Advanced Technology Companies are Collaborating to bring Total Integrated Solutions (TIS) to Advanced Composites Manufacturing
and Repair Facilities

A) CURRENT AREAS OF EMPHASIS – COMPOSITES MANUFACTURING

    1) Improving & Automating Prepreg Processing
         a) Process Efficiency – Dispensing, Marking & Cutting
         b) Kitting Sequence & Methodology
         c) Layup Methodology - Ply Location
         d) Layup Verification – Material Type
         e) Layup Verification – Fiber Orientation                                 

     2) Improving Honeycomb Core Machining & Processing
         a) Machining Efficiency – Flat Core Details
         b) Machining Efficiency - Complex Sculpted Core Components & Assemblies
         c) Reduction of Resulting Fuzz and Flagging
         d) Dimensional Geometry Inspection
         e) Quantifying Resulting Fuzz and Flagging

     3) Improving Cured Composites Part Processing
          a) Automating Pallet/Shuttle System – Loading/Unloading Machine Tool
          b) Fixture & Part Registration for Machining
          c) Non-contact Finished Part Inspection
          d) Surface Roughness Verification – Confirming Machined Surfaces (On machine)
          e) Surface Roughness Verification – Confirming IML/OML Surfaces (In shop)
          f) Surface Cleanliness Verification – Pre-painting/Pre-coating (In shop)

     4) Improving Automated Flat Prepreg Layup Processing
          a) Combining Flat Layup & Cutting of Flat Laid Up Charge on the Same Machine

     5) Improving & Automating Non-Prepreg Composites Parts Processing
          a) Preforming for Molding/Forming Process
          b) Molding/Forming Process

      6) Integrating, into a System Configuration,
           the Most Appropriate Technologies Needed in Order to Deliver Optimum
           Composite Part and Assembly Production, Based Upon
           Realistic Production Rate Requirements

      7) Implementing/Offering Training to Include All Technologies
          and Complete System/Cell Management for Each Manufacturing
          System/Cell Configuration

a) Training for System/Cell Operation Will be Offered by Professional Training Organization, in Addition to Training Provided by Each Company for That Company’s Technology

B) CURRENT AREAS OF EMPHASIS – COMPOSITES REPAIR

    1) Improving Dimensional Inspection Processing/Data Archival

a) Creating Accurate “As Is” 3-D Digital CAD Model for Subsequent Advanced Repair Processes

   2) Improving NDI/NDT Processing/Data Archival
         a) Automating, Where Appropriate, Existing NDI/NDT Technologies, That are
             Currently Manual Applications
         b) Exploring Development of Possible New NDI/NDT Technologies/Disciplines,
             including Microwave and Millimeter Wave Techniques, and others
         c) Placing Defect/Damaged Area Location/Boundry Accurately in 3-D CAD Model
             for Subsequent Advanced/Automated Repair Processes

   3) Implementing Advanced Laser Projection
          of Defect/Damaged Area Boundary onto the Part Surface for Fast/Accurate
          Identification of Defect/Damaged Area for Visual Review & Possibly Additional
          Manual NDI Verification for Assistance in Making “Repair or Replace” Decision

    4) Implementing Composite Part Repair Analysis and Process Qualification

          a) Accurately Model Real-world Composite Repairs, Bounding the Impact of Process
              and Material Variations

          b) Bringing Automatic World Class Finite Element Modeling to the Flight Line for
              Composite Repair Management

    5) Improving Process of Defect/Damage Removal/Scarfing
          a) Automating Machining Process for Removal/Scarfing
          b) Improving method of Creating Correct Digital Data for Replacement Plies and
              Core Plugs
          c) Automating Machining of Replacement Plies and Core Plugs  

    6) Improving Dimensional and/or NDI Verification of Successful Repair

    7) Providing a Record of Digital Documentation of all Inspection and Repair
        Processes   

    8) Integrating into a System Configuration
        the Most Appropriate Technologies Needed in Order to Deliver Optimum Composite
        Repairs, Based Upon Realistic Repair Rate Requirements

    9) Extending CAD Based Integrated Repair to Include Field Repair

   10) Implementing/Offering Training to Include All Technologies and Complete
          System/Cell Management for Each Repair System/Cell Configuration

a) Training for System/Cell Operation Will be Offered by a Professional Training Organization, in Addition to Training Provided by Each Company for That Company’s Technology

American GFM Chesapeake, VA 23323 Phone:757-487-2442