Modular induction heating for complex moulds

Kurzfassung

Heated moulds are frequently required to achieve optimal part quality in automated fibre placement of thermoplastic composites. However, attaining uniform heating of complex geometries is costly. Conventional heating elements do not adapt well to complex geometries, and adapting heating circuits to each geometry is expensive. Inductive heating using modular induction coils provides a viable solution to this challenge. In addition, design philosophies different from those of other established methods are enabled by induction heating. Thinner moulds are possible and can be heated more rapidly and efficiently than monolithic moulds. Expanding on developments from previous projects, chains of modular induction coils affixed to the rear surface of a thin mould were developed, enabling heat to be applied uniformly and efficiently where required. The coil chains can be mounted on different moulds with varying geometric boundary conditions, requiring only calibration. The same coils were successfully applied to a mould machined from a monolithic steel block and to another mould formed from sheet metal.