The new AFP-XS transforms any robotic arm into an automated composite manufacturing system.
Addcomposites is a research project startup at the University of Aalto in Finland that specializes in accessible, automated composite manufacturing systems. It has developed a plug-and-play solution called AFP-XS for the automatic fiber placement (AFP) / automatic tape laying (ATL) process that can be mounted on any existing robotic arm. Order this thousands of euros a month for this compact and lightweight tool. By developing each subsystem, control and software element in-house, Addcomposites offers consumers the lowest cost while maintaining aerospace-grade quality.
This cost and performance allows manufacturers to simply rent tool heads for their facilities and convert purchased robot arms into high-quality ATL / AFP systems. The AFP-XS system uses dry fibers, thermoset prepregs, and low-temperature thermoplastic composite tapes to produce lightweight, complex-shaped structures that optimize load carrying and efficiency.
Addcomposites was launched as a research project in 2017 with the goal of integrating all necessary steps of AFP-namely fiber feeding, tape cutting, impregnation and placement-into one step. Its initial product, AFP-XS, is the first step in this direction.
Addcomposites is currently located at the European Space Agency's Business Incubation Centre (ESA-BIC, Espoo, Finland) outside Helsinki and is conducting trial production trials with new space companies to validate the technology for a variety of applications. The company is funded by ESA-BIC and supported by ESA-BIC customers, but will complete its seed funding early in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Addcomposites has just completed a composite manufacturing automation project with Finland's largest composites manufacturer and is preparing to commercially launch its AFP-XS tools by the fourth quarter of 2019. Other system features will be revealed closer at this release.