Filament Winding
Composite raw materials are wound onto a rotating mandrel. The wind angle is controlled by the back and forth movement of a carriage that is synchronized with the revolution speed of the mandrel. Mandrels are typically cylindrical, although other shapes can be used. Options for composite raw material include fiber tows that are immersed in a resin bath, pre-preg tape, and others. Computer control and special software are used to control wind angle during the manufacturing process. Management of fiber tension is important to determine fiber volume fraction, void content, and other properties.
Fiber is wound on rotating mandrels or on rotating parts to increase hoop strength and other properties.
Typical Filament Winding Applications
Filament wound composite applications include fuselage components, launch tubes, other tubes, ducts, struts, flywheels, pipes, shafts, containers, vessels, tanks, and other hollow parts.
Filament Winding Advantages
- Low labor process
- Precise control of fiber angle
- Various ways to control resin content
- Multiple mandrels can be wound simultaneously
- Long wound parts can be cut into several similar pieces to increase capacity