3D Printed Preforms Improve Strength of Composite Brackets | The Cool Parts Show Bonus

Continuous fiber composites offer good mechanical properties, but can be difficult to apply in exactly the right configuration. Chopped fiber reinforced materials are easier to work with, but the shorter, randomly aligned fibers don’t provide equivalent strength. 9T Labs uses an unusual manufacturing strategy to achieve the best of both worlds: 3D printed continuous fiber preforms that reinforce a compression molded part otherwise formed from bulk molding compound including chopped fibers. In this bonus episode of The Cool Parts Show, we look at a pin bracket for the overhead bin of an airplane developed by 9T Labs and Purdue University. Two different versions— one with and one without the continuous fiber preforms — were created and tested, and we share the results.

This episode of The Cool Parts Show brought to you by Carpenter Additive: https://www.carpenteradditive.com/

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Previous episode comparing a composite bracket for a helicopter hinge to one machined from aluminum https://www.additivemanufacturing.med...

Why “hybrid” composites like this may have an advantage over metals https://www.additivemanufacturing.med...

More on 9T Labs’ Additive Fusion Technology process https://www.additivemanufacturing.med...

SAMPE technical paper on this project (available for purchase) https://www.nasampe.org/page/searchen...

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• #science_technology
• #additive_manufacturing
• #3d_printing
• #composites
• #bracket
• #aerospace
• #engineering
• #carbon_fiber
• #continuous_fiber
• #chopped_fiber
• #9t_labs
• #purdue_university