I’m looking to make composite tubing of all sorts for projects and hopefully a business. I’ve read a ton on companies using mandrels wrapped with prepreg CF then taping it with high tension tapers. They would you the tape tensioner to void all seams in the tubes then cure it at high temperature. Does anyone know where these companies get these machines from??? I’m new to this forum and forums in general. Sorry if this already exists. Any help would be great.
Machines being the tape tensioner.
Most are custom built.
I believe there was a company that made a “hornet” machine, which was useful for filament winding.
Have look at this companies products in Sydney, Australia - http://www.cstcomposites.com/ they have been making Mast sections for small dinghies to Maxi Yachts and Tube Diameters to order for many years now, they have also made their own Filament winding and Pull Trusion machines.
What will be the purpose of the tubing?
sports framing- Bicycle framing, roll cage, and anything else I can apply tubing, fuselage possibly.
http://singletrackworld.com/2012/07/enve-composites-factory-tour/
The is the Enve factory in Ogden, Utah. They have a full tube length tape tensioner. They show lots of pictures but are pretty stiff on giving out information.
If you are handy, you can make a frame with a high torque motor with various chucks/holders. After you wind the tube, you can then wind the tape. The tape would have a linear stage, attached to the same motor, and an indexer to move up and down the mandrel. Tension would be applied by some sort of grip, or roll grip system. But no, I don’t know who makes those things…
The tape wrappers from CDI are the only machines I’ve ever seen. Filament winders can be used as well but you need to put your own tape tensioning device on the winder carriage unless you special ordered a winder that had a tape tensioning device already on it.
I’m thinking about building a filament winder of my own. Ive seen a lot of them and they look similar to something that is done on a CNC table but a different set of axis. Then I would be able to build in own tape tensioner attachment.
It will be great if you can keep us updated on your project!!
Will do. I just realized the composite shop I use for my class has a real nice Mclean anderson filament winder. I took a ton of photos and will use those as a plan to build!