The systems will be available to manufacturers to develop prototype products containing composite materials. The CPC, scheduled to open in April, will serve as a resource for manufacturers seeking entry into the composites market by offering prototype manufacturing and test capabilities. The centre will also offer educational courses to support workforce training and retraining of displaced workers seeking new high-tech careers.
Nationally-recognised research universities will have access to CPC’s facility to complement their engineering students’ composite education. LIFT is also collaborating with local community colleges to develop a certificate course for composite technicians.
LIFT’s new, not-for-profit centre will house a GERBERcutter DCS 2500 computer-controlled, static cutting system that ensures composite plies are always cut precisely and a Virtek® LaserEdge® system which projects a laser template onto moulds and parts to guide operators through the ply layup process without using templates. By eliminating the use of physical templates, productivity of the layup process improves significantly. Phil Coniglio, project director of CPC, said: “Because Gerber and Virtek are experts in their respective fields of cutting and laser-projected ply layup and are one-in-the-same company, we were able to one-stop shop to get not only the latest technology but a complete composite processing solution.” LIFT is applying a capital grant from the state of New York to renovate a 25,000-square-foot building and purchase such equipment.
