不連續纖維復合管的新研究
NTPT是薄型預浸料、預制制品和零件方面的專家以及自動化領域的領導者，正在與洛桑-瑞士技術中心(EPFL)和其他合作伙伴合作，進一步證明這一技術。
高性能不連續纖維復合管
自2016年以來，ntpt一直在利用其申請的方法生產高性能碳纖維管，用于制造薄鋪層預浸料管。這種突破性的纏繞技術為復合材料設計工程師提供了在任何角度、在管的長度或厚度的任何一點上放置纖維層的自由，在提供如此高分辨率的工程能力方面是獨一無二的。
高級復合材料結構
為了充分了解這種管子的行為和潛力，該公司正在與歐洲的技術大學和復合材料領域的研究和技術轉讓工作專家-瑞士技術中心-EPFL(Ecole PolyTechnology fédérale de Lausanne)合作。這一新項目-NTPT和EPFL的第三個重要合作研究項目-加強了他們對通過薄鋪層技術提高先進復合材料結構性能的共同承諾。
這項為期四年的研究側重于用于高性能應用的不連續纖維復合管，指的是NTPT為高性能管材提供更嚴格的公差、更大的重復性以及高度的定制和設計自由度的專有制造工藝。研究的關鍵創新之處在于將管狀不連續纖維復合材料的潛力提升到一個新的水平。它將建立一個強大的科學知識庫，并開發必要的技術工具，以制定設計規則，優化材料，并繼續審視這一過程的成本效益，從而使公司能夠更好地向業績市場部門宣傳其優勢，并加快新項目和產品開發的初期階段。
碳纖維復合管
碳纖維復合管可用于各種市場部門和應用：航空部門的薄壁管作為支柱或控制臂，汽車傳動軸，桅桿和船舶部門的繁榮；滾筒和鋼瓶用于工業應用；以及表演體育部門，特別是高爾夫，ntpt正在為其建立一個新的業務下的tpt高爾夫品牌。在更大的范圍內，該技術可能適用于風力渦輪機SPAR和根組件的自動化制造。將在研究過程中開發兩個組成部分：一個短期項目是風浪桅桿，將與專業風帆運動員特里斯坦·阿爾格特合作開發18個月，另一個是與一家的航空公司合作開發無人機管狀結構的三年項目。
將研究納入商業工作
NTPT正在啟動一個令人興奮的項目，這是研究和開發高性能復合管的下一個明顯步驟。該公司已經建立了一個健全的平臺來開展其零部件業務，并在今年取得了重大進展。現在是進入下一個研究階段的時候了，這將使我們能夠更容易地對新的應用程序和查詢提供針對客戶的答復，并更快地進入新產品的原型階段。
NTPT已經成為眾所周知的問題解決者和解決方案尋找者，而不是回避更具挑戰性的簡報。這一研究項目反映了該公司不斷學習和深入研究令人興奮的管件制造發展的愿望。該公司與合作伙伴合作的方式使其能夠在整個四年的研究過程中將研究納入商業工作，客戶將在年內從早期發現中獲益。
原文如下： NTPT, specialists in Thin Ply prepregs, preforms and parts as well as leaders in automation, are collaborating with the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne – Swiss Centre of Technology (EPFL) and other partners, to further demonstrate this proof of technology.
New research study into discontinuous-fibre composite tubes
Discontinuous fibre composite tubes for high performance applications
NTPT? has been successfully producing high-performance carbon fibre tubes using their patent-pending method for manufacturing tubes with Thin Ply prepreg materials since 2016. Offering composite design engineers the freedom to position fibre plies at any angle and at any point in the tube’s length or thickness, this breakthrough winding technology is unique in providing such high-resolution engineering capability.
Franois Mordasini, Chairman, NTPT
Advanced composite structures
In order to fully understand the behaviour and potential of such tubes, the company is partnering with EPFL (Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne – the Swiss Centre of Technology), the leading European technical university and specialist in research and technology transfer work in the field of composite materials. This latest project – NTPT? and EPFL’s third significant collaborative research programme – reinforces their joint commitment to enhancing the performance of advanced composite structures enabled through Thin Ply technology.
The four-year study focuses on discontinuous fibre composite tubes for high-performance applications, referring to NTPT’s proprietary manufacturing process for high-performance tubes, which offer tighter tolerances, greater repeatability, as well as a high level of customisation and design freedom. The key innovation of the study is to move the potential of tubular discontinuous-fibre composites to a new level. It will create a strong scientific knowledge base, and develop the technical tools required to create design rules, optimise the material and continue to look at the cost effectiveness of the process, thereby enabling the company to better communicate its advantages to the performance market sectors, and to expedite the initial stages of new projects and product development.
Carbon fibre composite tubes
Carbon fibre composite tubes can be used in various market sectors and applications: thin-wall tubes in the aero sector as struts or control arms, automotive drive shafts, masts and booms in the marine sector; rollers and cylinders for industrial applications; as well as for the performance sports sector, in particular golf, for which NTPT? is establishing a new business under the TPT Golf brand. On a larger scale, the technology may be applicable to the automated manufacture of wind turbine spar and root components. Two components will be developed through the course of the study: one short-term project is a windsurf mast that will be developed over an 18-month period in conjunction with professional windsurfer Tristan Algret, and the other is a three-year project with a leading aerospace company to develop tubular structures for UAVs.
Integrating research into commercial work
NTPT is embarking on an exciting project that is the obvious next step in research and development into high-performance composite tubes. The company has established a sound platform from which to launch its parts business, and made significant progress this year. Now is the time to move into the next stage of research, which will make it possible to more easily provide customer-specific responses to new applications and enquiries, and to move into the prototyping stage of new products more quickly.
NTPT? has become known as a problem solver and solution finder, not shying away from the more challenging briefs. This research project is reflective of the company’s desire to keep learning and digging deeper into an exciting development for tube manufacture. The way it collaborates with its partners enables it to integrate research into commercial work throughout the fouryear study, and customers will be benefiting from the early stage findings within the first year.
