REDUCING MANUFACTURING COSTS BY DIRECT ROVING PLACEMENT (DRP)

Abstract

The Direct Roving Placement technology (DRP) is presented as an upcoming technology for the automated production of dry fibre composite preforms. Primary objective of the DRP technology is the reduction of the overall manufacturing costs, mainly by lowering the material costs. This can be achieved by directly processing raw fibre material combined with an online application of appropriate binders for the fibre fixation. This makes preceding fabric manufacturing processes as well as material wasting cutting processes unnecessary. One of the key technologies for a successful introduction of DRP technologies, a focus of this paper and the ongoing research, is the binder application, the binders themselves and their influence on the process and the material. Furthermore, the research activities are aiming for high production rates and improved overall manufacturing quality with an automated high volume direct fibre layup process.