This makes it possible to create new products from one continuous piece of carbon fiber, the company says.
By ablating the resin, the reinforcement becomes an integrated hinge within the laminate. Using a computer guided laser, specific patterns and designs can be implemented within composite materials. These hinges can be created in a single ply or in thicker laminates depending on the strength required.
Similar to metal
In addition to utilizing this technology as a hinge, the matrix reinforcement can be reapplied to the hinged area to lock the composite into a new shape, similar to that of forming sheet metal.
‘These integrated, non-articulating hinges have been used for many years in the fields of packaging and sheet metal,’ the company said. ‘Integrating the manufacturing capabilities of these fields with composite technologies widens the possibilities for future applications. Previous molding techniques limit geometries in which composites can be formed, but with the implementation of a flexible portion, the molding capabilities of composites increase.’
Applications of the CF-Lex technology range from simple wallets and folders to potentially complex designs for bike frames, automobile parts, and airplane components. The replacement of a standard metal hinge with an integrated carbon fiber hinge can reduce weight and complexity of an assembly, while increasing its strength by eliminating the need for bolt holes and adhesives.
