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Smart Mandrels Smart Mandrels for Composite Tooling
(US Patent No. 7,422,714)

How Smart Tooling Works

Smart Mandrels are reusable mandrels created to reduce the complexity and hassle of the composite tooling process. With this ground-breaking technology, commercial filament winders and composite manufacturers now have access to an inexpensive solution to the high labor and materials costs normally associated with trapped tooling.

CRG has invented fully cured, high-performance thermoset systems (Veriflex®) that are elastic above set transition temperatures and recover to a "memory" shape when left unrestrained. Mandrels made with these thermoset systems provide distinct advantages over conventional approaches. Smart Mandrels can be easily molded, extracted, and reused.

The smart tooling process is being commercialized through SmartTooling.com.

Advantages of Shape Memory Properties

When heated above the transition temperature, the mandrel becomes elastic and can easily be molded into a desired shape. Once cooled, the material will become rigid and retain the new shape. The mandrel can then be filament wound and the resulting part cured on the mandrel. Heating the mandrel above its transition temperature after the part is cured makes the mandrel elastic again and easily extractible from the part. Because of the mandrel's shape memory properties, it can be returned to its original tubular shape and reused.

Benefits of Smart Mandrels

   • Faster fabrication process, reduced
      cycle time
   • Reduced material and mandrel
      creation costs
   • Reduced labor costs
   • Simple extraction process
   • Reusability
   • Lower environmental impact, cleaner
      process
   • Tremendous shape versatility
 

Current Characteristics

Transition temperature..........................85°C/185°F
Cure temperature of part
   Mandrel process........up to 40°C/104°F
   Bladder process...... up to 140°C/284°F
Demold temperature.. up to 130°C/266°F

Comparison with Conventional Tooling:

Feature Smart Mandrels Salt/
Sand
Metal
Reusability High None High
Materials Cost Low Low High
Labor Cost Low Medium High

The Smart Mandrels Trapped Tooling Process
  Technology
Manufacturing Technology Portfolio:

  Deep Core Composite
    Repair
  Enhancement of
    Nanomaterials
  Leave-In Mandrels
  Microscale Molding
  Rapid Composite
    Manufacturing
  SMP Bladders
  Smart Mandrels™


Advanced Materials Portfolio

Systems Engineering Portfolio

Manufacturing Technology Overviews:
Shape Memory Mandrels
Deep Core Composite Repair
       
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