A MOULD CONCEPT FOR STRINGER-INTEGRATED COMPOSITE PARTS IN AN ISOTHERMAL AND FULLY AUTOMATED RESIN TRANSFER MOULDING PROCESS

Abstract

Increasing production rates in the aerospace industry are leading to radical changes in manufacturing processes. The key to these future processes is a high level of automation. This paper describes the requirements and prerequisites for the production of large and complex composite structures in an experimental fully automated production facility. Furthermore, a suitable mould concept for typical aerospace components like shells with integrated stringers is developed and validated at a small scale. Finally, an approach for upscaling is presented along with an identification of the approach's limits.