Browsing by Author "Soares, Manuel Marco"
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- Design of a machine for the production of composite prepregsPublication . Soares, Manuel Marco; Figueiredo, Lino Manuel BaptistaThe mechanical properties of materials are crucial in the creation of new technologies. The search for new, lighter, and more versatile materials, such as polymeric matrices, has led to the creation of new technologies to produce these materials. This study reflects in the development of a machine for producing composite materials of thermoplastic matrix. This material imposes challenges in its production, such as temperature control and processing speed. The aim of the work is to design a machine for producing pre-impregnated composites. To this end, the main objectives are the selection of the necessary components, control and monitoring of process parameters and the acquisition and transmission of information to a computer. After briefly analysing the process and its main parameters, various technologies are selected for temperature and speed control. Regarding temperature, thermocouple sensors are needed to read the temperature values in the thermoplastic processing range. Resistive heating elements are also used to provide heat to the system to reach the processing temperatures. To produce the material, a motor is needed to pull the fibres through the molten thermoplastic matrix. This material, in its plastic state, has high viscosity and therefore requires the use of a geared motor in order to obtain a high pulling torque. Production is controlled by a microcontroller that interacts with the different components of the system. A computer application is also implemented which allows the process setpoint values to be entered and allow remote control via Bluetooth communication between the computer and the microcontroller. The machine developed fulfils the requirements proposed for the solution.