Multi-functional filament winding machine delivered for hydrogen tank manufacture

Cygnet Texkimp, a composites technology company from the UK, delivered a four-axis filament winding machine to the National Composite Centre, where it will form part of a new manufacturing and test facility for hydrogen transportation and storage.

Developed by Cygnet Texkimp, the filament winding technology can wind all types of filament from towpregs to dry fiber and glass fiber, and all combinations of fibers and resins including high viscosity and fast cure resins.

The filament winder works to wind four tows simultaneously. Each tow has its own tension control unit and dancer arm which regulates feeding and winding tension to enable faster and more accurate operation.

A four-axis filament winding machine is delivered to the National Composite Centre.

The machine is served by two four-position creels. A towpreg creel is an essential part of the technology. It unwinds and guides towpreg material into the winder. It also completely isolates the tension required at the bobbin from the tension desired during the winding phase, in order to ensure that the fiber is fed optimally at all times.

A second, dry fiber creel feeds fibers into the process at low tension and high accuracy and is enclosed to prevent the release of airborne debris into the environment.

Featuring two types of in-line spreading and coating capability, the machine allow quick and easily-deployed dry-wind applications – a temperature-controlled wet-out system with adjustable spreader bars to spread individual fiber tows for consistent resin impregnation, as well as a coating drum and blade help control the volume of resin applied to the fiber.

A customized software package, also developed by Cygnet Texkimp, also allows the National Composite Centre to record data including winding tension and speed, resin temperature and air pressure within the mandrel.

“Acquisition of the Filament Winding machine builds on our investment in capability development for hydrogen, with this machine predominantly focused at pressure vessels,” commented Marcus Walls-Bruck, Head of Hydrogen at the National Composites Centre.