Evaluation of Large Format 3D Printing in the Manufacturing of Tooling for Resin Transfer Molding - Carfair Composites Inc. (RESUBMISSION)

树脂传递模塑模具制造中大幅面 3D 打印的评估 - Carfair Composites Inc.（重新提交）

• 批准号: CCARD-2022-00516
• 负责人: DelosReyes, JoseRizalino
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: Red River College Polytechnic
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=756165
• 关键词: Evaluation; Large; Format; 3D; Printing

Carfair Composites, Inc. is a Winnipeg-based company and a global leader in the manufacturing andsupply of high-quality composite structures for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Thecompany's innovative use of the Light Resin Transfer Molding (LRTM) process to produce lightweightcritical components has opened up an opportunity for the development of more fuel-efficient andlower emission buses. Carfair is currently looking for ways to significantly lower production costs andimprove productivity as part of their effort to support the growing adoption of lightweight compositestructures in heavy vehicle manufacturing. Accordingly, the company is making a significant effort inevaluating large format 3D printing of composite molds as a faster and cost-effective method oftooling development compared to the traditional tool manufacturing techniques.There is still a large knowledge gap in the application of 3D printing of polymers in the manufacturingof large-size tooling. Majority of the existing 3D printers were developed and optimized for parts inthe scale of two feet or less. Large format 3D printing requires an in-depth knowledge of design foradditive manufacturing, process parameters optimization, dimensional analysis and manufacturingpost-processing as applied to printing larger components, usually at the scale of four feet and above.Carfair and the Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing (TACAM) at Red RiverCollege Polytechnic are pulling their technical expertise together to address the current limitations inlarge format 3D printing for composite molds. The team will focus on process development leadingto the creation of prototype composite molds for LRTM.Both TACAM and Carfair have already made some investments in 3D printing of polymers, with theacquisition of some large printers. The College team has developed significant expertise in polymeradditive manufacturing processes that can be easily transferred to the printing of large-formatcomponents. The team will use their skills in 3D modeling, process parameters selection, 3D lasermetrology and CNC machining to produce prototype large-format composite molds for the LRTMprocess, which will be tested and adopted by industry. Carfair is in a position to utilize the results ofthis research work immediately, with potentials for significant cost and time savings and improvedprocess efficiency.

Carfair Composites, Inc. 是一家总部位于温尼伯的公司，是为原始设备制造商 (OEM) 制造和供应高质量复合材料结构的全球领导者。该公司创新地使用轻质树脂传递模塑 (LRTM) 工艺来生产轻质关键部件，为开发更节能、更低排放的客车开辟了机会。 Carfair 目前正在寻找显着降低生产成本和提高生产率的方法，作为支持重型车辆制造中越来越多地采用轻质复合材料结构的努力的一部分。因此，该公司正在大力评估复合材料模具的大幅面 3D 打印，将其作为一种比传统工具制造技术更快、更具成本效益的工具开发方法。在聚合物 3D 打印的应用方面仍然存在很大的知识差距在大型模具制造中。大多数现有 3D 打印机都是针对两英尺或更小尺寸的零件开发和优化的。大幅面 3D 打印需要深入了解增材制造、工艺参数优化、尺寸分析和制造后处理的设计知识，这些知识适用于打印较大的部件（通常尺寸为四英尺及以上）。Carfair 和航空航天技术访问中心红河学院理工学院的制造和制造部门 (TACAM) 正在整合他们的技术专业知识，以解决当前复合模具大幅面 3D 打印的局限性。该团队将专注于工艺开发，从而为 LRTM 创建原型复合模具。TACAM 和 Carfair 都已经在聚合物 3D 打印方面进行了一些投资，并收购了一些大型打印机。学院团队在聚合物增材制造工艺方面积累了丰富的专业知识，可以轻松地应用于大幅面组件的打印。该团队将利用他们在 3D 建模、工艺参数选择、3D 激光测量和 CNC 加工方面的技能，为 LRTM 工艺生产大型复合材料模具原型，并将在行业中进行测试和采用。 Carfair 能够立即利用这项研究工作的结果，有可能显着节省成本和时间并提高流程效率。