If your carbon component has at least one of the following features ...
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... Thin Ply Technology ® may offer significant benefits:
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TPCM
TPCM produces technologically advanced components for the space, aeronautics, automotive, renewable energy and machine building industries. TPCM is part of a network of corporations that develop and industrialize advanced composite manufacturing technologies and offer sophisticated production capability and capacity to OEMs.
TPCM supplies engineered primary, secondary and non-structural carbon fiber components. TPCM uses THIN PLY TECHNOLOGY (TPT)®, a highly innovative, yet proven industrial methodology to create stressed, autoclaved and non-autoclaved components. TPCM offers clean room processes where required. TPCM uses standard pre-preg or wet-lay-up methodology as complementary processes.
TPCM combines leading edge manufacturing methods to offer customers an optimum match of proven technologies for their specific applications. TPCM's customers are relieved from having to scout, evaluate, test, implement and operate numerous different carbon manufacturing technologies in order to cover all requirements defined by its specific products or from having to accept product design and performance limitations imposed by the limited availability of in-house manufacturing methods.
TPCM manufactures carbon components at its Composites Silesia plant in Czechowice, Silesia, Poland.
Thin Ply Technology ® was developed and is owned by North Thin Ply Technology (NTPT). NTPT also develops related technologies (TPT-specific Automated Tape Laying (ATL)/Plotting, proprietary software for simulation, design, production control and logistics).
TPCM develops the complimentary transfer, molding and serial production technology, in close cooperation with and as a trade partner of NTPT.
TPCM supplies engineered primary, secondary and non-structural carbon fiber components. TPCM uses THIN PLY TECHNOLOGY (TPT)®, a highly innovative, yet proven industrial methodology to create stressed, autoclaved and non-autoclaved components. TPCM offers clean room processes where required. TPCM uses standard pre-preg or wet-lay-up methodology as complementary processes.
TPCM combines leading edge manufacturing methods to offer customers an optimum match of proven technologies for their specific applications. TPCM's customers are relieved from having to scout, evaluate, test, implement and operate numerous different carbon manufacturing technologies in order to cover all requirements defined by its specific products or from having to accept product design and performance limitations imposed by the limited availability of in-house manufacturing methods.
TPCM manufactures carbon components at its Composites Silesia plant in Czechowice, Silesia, Poland.
Thin Ply Technology ® was developed and is owned by North Thin Ply Technology (NTPT). NTPT also develops related technologies (TPT-specific Automated Tape Laying (ATL)/Plotting, proprietary software for simulation, design, production control and logistics).
TPCM develops the complimentary transfer, molding and serial production technology, in close cooperation with and as a trade partner of NTPT.
Thin Ply Technology ®
Thin Ply Technology ® is based on the concept of plotting 2-dimensional (flat) multilayered preforms using unidirectional tapes and draping them in 3-dimensional (single or compound curvature) molds, with the use of CNC equipment and automated handlers wherever possible.
While this method is as old as tailoring or sail-making, its successful application to the composite world depends both on the ability to anticipate exactly the shape change while draping and the ability to predict and limit the internal stresses to the preform that occur while draping. The properly designed and plotted preforms then need to be joined in the 3-D mold without incurring structural losses in the final component. This is achieved by creating fine-ratio tapers at the periphery of the preforms that allow for loss-less combination of the transferred and draped plots.
These conditions are met by using so-called "Thin Ply Tapes" and an advanced manufacturing technology managed by a proprietary software suite. TPCM uses thin ply tapes that are created through a proprietary tow spreading technology developed and owned by North Thin Ply Technology ® (NTPT). They are industrially produced by NTPT, an innovative supplier of fiber technology pre-products. Tape manufacturing is collocated with TPCM's Composite Silesia Plant. The continuously evolving software suite was also developed and is owned by North Thin Ply Technology and supports all aspects of the TPT process.
The 2D plotting and subsequent draping reduces cost compared to 3D plotting, both in capital expenses and equipment productivity. At the same time it offers superior results and can be scaled to high output at reasonable cost.
Thin Ply Technology therefore offers the ability to take advantage of carbon fiber's true potential to a much wider range of clients. At the same time it opens the opportunity to investigate carbon technology even when larger production volumes are required.
While this method is as old as tailoring or sail-making, its successful application to the composite world depends both on the ability to anticipate exactly the shape change while draping and the ability to predict and limit the internal stresses to the preform that occur while draping. The properly designed and plotted preforms then need to be joined in the 3-D mold without incurring structural losses in the final component. This is achieved by creating fine-ratio tapers at the periphery of the preforms that allow for loss-less combination of the transferred and draped plots.
These conditions are met by using so-called "Thin Ply Tapes" and an advanced manufacturing technology managed by a proprietary software suite. TPCM uses thin ply tapes that are created through a proprietary tow spreading technology developed and owned by North Thin Ply Technology ® (NTPT). They are industrially produced by NTPT, an innovative supplier of fiber technology pre-products. Tape manufacturing is collocated with TPCM's Composite Silesia Plant. The continuously evolving software suite was also developed and is owned by North Thin Ply Technology and supports all aspects of the TPT process.
The 2D plotting and subsequent draping reduces cost compared to 3D plotting, both in capital expenses and equipment productivity. At the same time it offers superior results and can be scaled to high output at reasonable cost.
Thin Ply Technology therefore offers the ability to take advantage of carbon fiber's true potential to a much wider range of clients. At the same time it opens the opportunity to investigate carbon technology even when larger production volumes are required.
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Engineering, Toolbox and R&D
TPCM provides engineering for its products. TPCM will engineer components from specifications, provide engineering input and support for optimum definition of specifications or re-engineer existing build to print designs to fit TPCM's more efficient manufacturing methods.
TPCM combines its methods and pre-engineered standard application solutions in the TPCM Toolbox which in turn speed up time-to-market for the final product.
TPCM combines its methods and pre-engineered standard application solutions in the TPCM Toolbox which in turn speed up time-to-market for the final product.
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Manufacturing
For small series, TPCM works in close partnership with NTPT which has prototyping and small series production capability at the Thin Ply Research and & Development facility in Penthalaz, Switzerland.
TPCM is currently outfitting a state-of the art manufacturing plant in Czechowice, Silesia, Poland. It has in- and out-of-clean room plotting and lay-up capability and offers large autoclaves (up to 3.5m x 10m) for a wide range of applications. The Czechowice plant is expected to go online in early of 2015.
TPCM is currently outfitting a state-of the art manufacturing plant in Czechowice, Silesia, Poland. It has in- and out-of-clean room plotting and lay-up capability and offers large autoclaves (up to 3.5m x 10m) for a wide range of applications. The Czechowice plant is expected to go online in early of 2015.
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Pictures above: TPCM AG, North Thin Ply Technology LLC, SCNTPL z o.o.
