TURBINE ENGINE COMPOSITE PREFORMS: DESIGN OF A MAGNAWEAVE LOOM FOR 3-D BRAIDING NET SHAPE

BRAIDTECH'S PROPRIETARY AUTOMATED, CONTINUOUS PROCESS FOR FABRICATING 3-D BRAIDED COMPOSITE PREFORMS WILL BE THE BASIS FOR THE DESIGN OF A 3-D BRAIDING MACHINE CAPABLE OF FABRICATING NET SHAPE PREFORMS OF INTEREST TO THE TURBINE ENGINE AEROPROPULSION DESIGNER. THE DESIGN THAT EVOLVES WILL BE AN EXTENSION OF BASIC CONCEPTS EVALUATED BY BRAIDTECH FOR THE DESIGN OF AUTOMATED LOOMS FOR FABRICATING SHAPES FOR THE AIRCRAFT, MARINE, AND LAND TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRIES. THE PROJECT WILL REVIEW SHAPES OF INTEREST, AND SELECT A SET OF CRITERIA THAT REFLECTS THOSE VAIOUS SHAPES, AND THE MECHANICAL REQUIREMENTS TO BE SATISFIED BY THE REINFORCING PREFORM. THREE DIMENSIONAL REINFORCEMENT IS ESSENTIAL; ACCURATE AND REPRODUCIBLE FIBER PLACEMENT HAVE EQUAL IMPORTANCE. A CONTINUOUS, MINIMUM LABOR, AUTOMATED, INEXPENSIVE PROCESS IS DESIRED; MAGNAWEAVE IS SEEN TO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SATISFY BOTH THE TECHNICAL AND THE ECONOMIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAM.