Tape Winding utilizes the same machine technology as Laser-assisted Tape Placement (LATP) and can thus be referred to as Laser-assisted Tape Winding (LATW). Unlike LATP, the UD tape is placed onto a spinning mandrel, which serves as the winding core, rather than a flat mold. Alternatively, the tape can be wound directly onto a plastic liner. The winding angle can be adjusted by altering the rotational movement of the mandrel and the translational movement of the tape-applying robot system. Tape Winding allows for the manufacture of rotationally symmetric components such as tubes, pipes, bearings and even pressure vessels.
Thanks to quick material changes and generally low setup requirements, Tape Winding is an exceptionally flexible production technology.
In the Tape Winding process, UD tape is wound layer by layer according to the load requirements. This load-optimized winding ensures the most efficient use of the highly valuable material.
Tape Winding results in little to no material waste.
The Tape Winding process is entirely automated. Manual intervention is required only during material changes.
Equipped with measuring technology, Tape Winding machines usually allow for online quality control.
The UD tape material (typically 12 or 25 mm wide) is unwound and transported to the tip of the placement head (2). At this point, the laser system (3) locally heats the tape above its melting point. Immediately after heating, the tape is placed onto the spinning mandrel, liner or substrate (4) using the pressure-applying consolidation roller (1). All process parameters are logged for quality assurance purposes.
Discover the automated precision behind the Tape Winding process. Watch the video to see the process in action and witness how TAFNEX™ UD Tape is transformed into high-quality TAFNEX™ Tubes.
By winding TAFNEX™ UD Tape onto a plastic liner, a type IV pressure vessel is created, suitable for applications like hydrogen storage.
TAFNEX™ UD Tape is wound onto a polymer liner to manufacture durable, corrosion-resistant thermoplastic composite pipes (TCP).
Drone legs manufactured through winding TAFNEX™ UD Tape decrease the drone's weight and allow for reduced assembly effort through local functionalization.
TAFNEX™'s vibration damping characteristics as well as chemical and wear resistance makes it suitable for bearing applications in different environments.
Bent TAFNEX™ Tubes make an excellent choice for furniture, being lighter than metal tubes and offering a more attractive look. This is particularly useful for items like folding chairs that are moved around often.