In upstream composites production processes, it is often necessary to control a fiber 

or a band of fibers to an optimum tension value. However, identifying the correct tension is often overlooked, and production processes still utilize tensioning systems which were developed decades ago without much consideration.

If the starting tension at the creel is not controlled properly, then the final product may be constructed of fibers with varying tension. As a result, it will not fully utilize the strength of all fibers equally. This can degrade the mechanical properties of the final product.

The main focus of the Robotunits technology is to offer quicker, more flexible, and more intelligent solutions. This is true in particular for the Robotunits Conveyors. The range includes high performance conveyors with a wide range of belt properties with or without cleats in different shapes and sizes. Accumulating, vacuum or magnetic conveyors and custom conveyors outside of the standard dimensions are also available by special order. The Belt Conveyor System is seamlessly integrated into the Modular Automation System: The extrusions and fasteners used in the conveyors systems are the same as the framework, making integration into equipment framework easy.

Izumi International can also integrate these conveyors into turn-key material handling solutions: for small scale systems which only require a single conveyor to large scale material handling projects requiring several conveyors.

There are a variety of conveyors in the lineup as shown below:

With the increasing variety of resin systems available for carbon fiber and other high-performance fibers, there is a growing need for development of sizing materials which interface well with each resin/fiber combination.

For the development of the sizing material, it is often difficult to experiment without obtaining un-sized fiber. Unless you produce the fiber in your own facility, in many cases it would be necessary to de-size the fiber first, and then apply the desired sizing materials.

The importance of the accuracy of the tension coming off of a creel or let-off is forgotten at times.  Extensive design effort is put into the equipment to actually produce the sheet or tube formed from carbon fiber, but in many cases the front end of this process is overlooked.

The accuracy of tension coming off of the creel can influence the mechanical properties of the part, and either enhance or degrade it depending on the tension control. In some cases, it is not the absolute value of tension which is important, but the minimization of deviation of tension between ends. A single tow of fiber with higher tension than the others could degrade a UD sheet or a pultruded part….etc.

We have many success stories from our customers implementing our creels. Uniformity and improved characteristics of a UD sheet or tape, better mechanical properties observed in a pultruded part, stronger filament wound products, and better strength in a woven fabric.

See the details below for further types of creels available.

The main focus of the Robotunits technology is to offer quicker, more flexible and more intelligent solutions. This is true in particular for the Robotunits Conveyors. The range includes high performance conveyors with a wide range of belt properties with or without cleats in different shapes and sizes. Accumulating, vacuum or magnetic conveyors and custom conveyors outside of the standard dimensions are also available by special order. The Belt Conveyor System is seamlessly integrated into the Modular Automation System: The extrusions and fasteners used in the conveyors systems are the same as the framework, making integration into equipment framework easy.

There are a variety of conveyors in the lineup as shown below:

A Portable Measuring Solution

At Izumi International, we produce feed rollers, nip rollers, pinch rollers, stretch rollers and driven winding systems designed to maintain a constant driving speed on fibers or web materials.  To calibrate our equipment, we built a portable calibration tool to quickly and accurately measure product length and the line/surface speed of rollers, webs, belts and product.  We realized this tool would also benefit our customers Quality and Maintenance groups that need to validate machine Line Speed/ Length displays or to troubleshoot and maintain their equipment. 

The PLSC-1000 portable counter provides a NIST traceable speed/length calibration system designed to be easily moved around and mounted to production equipment for test, calibration and verification of speeds and lengths shown on the production equipment displays. 

The new version of MuCAD (the programmable dispensing software interface for the Musashi desktop robots) now includes a feature to create dispensing profiles from G-Code. This makes it possible to dispense 3D structures from three dimensional CAD data with ease.    

Musashi Engineering has been a leader of industrial dispensing and dispensing robots for over 40 years. Their vast experience with dispensing makes their equipment the perfect fit for bio-printing, which can involve a wide array of liquids with differing mechanical properties and viscosities. The equipment has been proven in the harshest industrial environments such as automotive applications or electronic applications, which not only demand high precision and high output, but required to be economically appealing as well. Refined over decades of industrial applications, Musashi dispensers and dispensing robots will provide the accuracy and affordability for your bio-printing needs.

Below are some further details on the G-Code enabled software for 3D dispensing, and other equipment that will aid in your bio-printing needs.

The solution to this is the WF-510, a weft feeder designed specifically for carbon fiber and other flat materials. By utilizing an air dancer, this weft accumulator synchronizes with the weaving machine to supply weft fiber by unrolling it rather than pulling it off the end of the package, thus supplying the weft fiber twist free. There are no complicated timing signals to incorporate with the loom, which makes setup easy and simple.

Below are some of the benefits of using the WF-510 for weaving carbon fiber as well as other flat materials.

Rewinding (or respooling) carbon fiber is best avoided when possible. When carbon fiber is rewound, filaments can get damaged, fiber can get twisted, and the width of the fiber can become distorted.

However, in many cases rewinding is unavoidable. You may need to break down packages to put on a weaving creel, which may have close to 1000 positions. Since having full carbon fiber bobbins on a large creel is expensive, there may be a requirement to break down carbon fiber packages into smaller packages. Typically small packages are not available from the fiber manufacturers.

There may also be an instance in which smaller left-over packages need to be consolidated into a larger package. In this case a rewinder can also be used.

We offer a few different solutions for rewinding carbon fiber and other high performance fibers, with minimal damage to the fiber.

Location: TD Convention Center, Greenville, SC