Robotic fibre placement technology now facilitated for SMEs

With the new robotic fibre placement machine in operation since this summer at Compositadour, SMEs now have easier access to this technology, previously only used by large manufacturing groups.

At the beginning of August, the Compositadour technology platform, devoted to advanced materials and located on the Technocité science park in Bayonne, took delivery of a new machine. Designed by the Carbon Axis Company in La Rochelle, the XCell machine tool enables the production of small parts in composite materials for the aeronautics sector and for small industry, for example in the sport & leisure sector.

“It’s a technology that has been around for a long time but was reserved for areas with high added value such as aeronautics or aerospace because it requires major investment. With XCell, local SMEs can make small 2D or 3D parts in carbon fibre, technically optimised and for a reasonable cost,” explains Guillaume Fourage, engineer and Composites project manager at Compositadour. 

Similarly to the way in which 3D printing processes have come into general use, this technology for placing carbon fibres will be more accessible thanks to the technology transfers developed by Compositadour. “Using the machine is relatively simple. An SME can use it with its teams and minimal supervision from the Compositadour technicians or they can subcontract the manufacture of their prototypes to our teams and have the benefit of our experience acquired from aeronautics,” says Guillaume Fourage.

Website: https://www.compositadour.com