Composite and Polymer Product Manufacturing
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Linear Vibration Welding Machine (Seven Hills NSW)
Purpose
Friction welding for joining large plastic parts, eg: automotive parts, pump housing and medical enclosures.
Specification
There are only two linear vibration welding facilities in NSW.
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EOSINT P380i - Selective Laser Sintering (Ingleburn NSW)
Purpose
Selective laser sinterring (SLS) is an additive manufacturing technique that uses a high power laser to fuse small particles of plastic powder into a mass representing a desired 3-dimensional object. The laser selectively fuses powdered material by scanning cross-sections generated from a 3-D digital description of the part (e.g. from a CAD file or scan data) on the surface of a powder bed.
After each cross-section is scanned, the powder bed is lowered by one layer thickness, a new layer of material is applied on top, and the process is repeated until the part is completed. Compared to other methods of additive manufacturing, SLS can produce parts from a relatively wide range of commercially available powder materials, including polymers (nylon, glass-filled or with other fillers). One rapidly growing application of SLS is its use in art.
Specifications
The EOSINT P380i, has a build envelope of 380mm x 380mm x 600mm (13.4x 13.4x24.4 in). Exposure unit- CO2 laser- Wave length of laser 10.6 μm, Laser radiation power (at time of delivery) 50 W, Laser beam scanning (Scanner), High-speed rotating mirror scanning system uses precision galvanometer scanners with temperature compensation, integrated servo- and interface electronics, digital data transfer from the systems control computer and digital signal processing. - Exposed area 350 x 350 mm- Scanning speed up to 5 m/s, positioning accuracy of laser beam ± 0.05 mm. This unit builds in layers of 100 micron thickness.
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3 x Autoclaves for Composite Curing (Harlaxton QLD)
Purpose
These are purpose-built, Australian designed and made autoclaves for the curing of fibre composite tools and components. All autoclaves are computer-operated, providing full automated programming and cure cycle data recording for quality purposes.
Specifications
- Autoclave 1: Internal dimensions: 540mm ID x 1840mm Long; Working Pressure: 100psi; Working Temperature: 160oC
- Autoclave 2: Internal dimensions: 1450mm ID x 3050mm Long; Working Pressure: 100psi; Working Temperature: 160oC
- Autoclave 3: Internal dimensions: 2387mm ID x 7250mm Long; Working Pressure: 200psi; Working Temperature: 240oC
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Textile Lamination Unit (Moorabbin VIC)
Purpose
Hot-Melt, Moisture Cure polyurethane adhesive lamination of textiles and membranes. The process uses low tension on the web, enabling the lamination of woven or knitted textiles with minimal distortion. In addition, the web in process experiences only minimal, brief contact with heat (during application of the adhesive).
Specifications
The Lamination Unit is capable of processing 4000 lineal metres per 8 hour shift.
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Prepregger Unit (Moorabbin VIC)
Purpose
This machine is designed to impregnate glass fabrics (by padding or blade application) with epoxy vinylester or polyester resins employed in composites manufacture. The unit incorporates beta-ray gauge monitoring of add-on and UV exposure to b-stage the resin deposition. Batched fabric delivery and packaging at take-off are also components of this processing unit. Infra-red radiators are installed in the unit, although are not appropriate for current technology employed.
Specifications
The prepregger unit is capable of processing 4000 kgs per 8 hour shift. The maximum web width capable of being processed is 1500mm.
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Solvent Coating Stenter - 2200mm (Moorabbin VIC)
Purpose
This machine is designed to doctor blade-coat textiles. A padding system and 4-bay ovens extending over 12 metres are also incorporated to the coating line. Batched fabric delivery and take-off are also components of this processing unit. The machine is designed to accommodate the use of flammable solvents in the coating systems employed on this unit.
Specifications
The unit is capable of processing 7000 metres per 8 hour shift. The maximum web width capable of being processed is 2200mm.
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Double Planetary Mixer (Delacombe VIC)
Purpose
A vacuum, high torque and high shearing mixing machine, is capable of mixing or compounding materials of various densities together under heat and vacuum, producing a uniform mixture, such as engineering plastics, composites, metal injection moulding and ceramic injection moulding feedstocks.
Specifications
- Work Volume: 50 litres
- Temperature: up to 250oC
- Vacuum: 10-1 tor
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Sintering Furnaces (Delacombe VIC)
Purpose
For high temperature sintering of various metal and ceramic articles in hydrogen, inert gases and/or full vacuum, partial pressure operating conditions with PID programmable controller, retort and ceramic stage trays.
Specifications
- Work Volume: 1500 x 300 x 550mm
- Maximum Operating Temperature: 1600oC
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Debinding Furnaces (Delacombe VIC)
Purpose
For thermal depolymerisation/debinder under controlled flowing protective gas atmosphere, with PID programmable controller, precise temperature control over working temperature range and after-burner to ensure complete burnout and clean environment.
Specifications
- Work Volume: 1200 x 420 x 420 mm
- Maximum Operating Temperature: 800oC
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Injection Moulding Machines (Delacombe VIC)
Purpose
40T to 100T machines for moulding highly filled plasticised materials such as Engineering plastics, composites and forming metal injection moulding and ceramic injection moulding green articles. The machines are all equipped with Bimetallic barrels, through hardened screws with high compression ratio and are capable of applying both negative and positive back pressure for different materials with different flow properties, coupled with robotic arm pick and place system for fully automated production.
Specifications
- Varying from 40T to 100T clamping force
- Temperature: 250 – 350oC maximum
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Plasma Polymerisation (Hawthorn VIC)
Purpose
Plasma polymerisation produces thin (1-100nm), conformal films that are adherent to virtually any substrate. Plasma polymers can be produced from a wide variety of monomer sources to produce films with specific chemical and physical properties. Plasma polymers have been used across a wide range of industries to improve adhesion, create hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces, form barrier coatings, provide specific chemical functionality or charge and prevent biofouling.
Specifications
The 13 Litre stainless steel reactors can coat a wide range of sample formats up to ~200mm in diameter and in some instances larger samples can be handled. A wide range of monomer chemistries can be deposited onto virtually any solid substrate including membranes and fibres.
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FC2 Ultrasonic Fabric Sealing Machine (Camdale TAS)
Purpose
The FC2 cuts and seals fabrics, allowing operators to produce straight and square cut fabric pieces which will not fray.
Specifications
The motorised feed rollers can accommodate fabric rolls to 3.5 metres wide and 50Kg in weight. The FC2 can cut and seal polyester, fibreglass, PVC and most other types of fabric, sheer and canvas.
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