Composite manufacturing glossary of terms
Below are a collection of composite manufacturing terms that you may find useful.
BMC |
Bulk Moulding Compound |
Adhesive |
A paste or film of thermoset resin which is cured under heat/pressure to bond composite, honeycomb and metal-based surfaces. |
Aramid |
Very stiff and strong fibre, such as Kevlar (TM), derived from polymid. |
CAD |
Computer Aided Design |
CAM |
Computer Aided Manufacturing. |
Core |
In composite sandwich construction, the core is the centre component to which inner and outer skins are attached. Foam, honeycomb and wood are common core materials. |
Cure |
The process of hardening of a thermosetting resin by using heat. |
ERP |
Enterprise Resource Planning. Software used for managing production, stock, HR, accounting etc. |
Fairing |
Aerospace structure designed to provide enhanced aerodynamics, such as where the body of a plane meets a wing. |
Fibreglass |
Filaments of molten glass, which are then woven into a fabric and often used as a reinforcement for composite materials. |
Filament Winding |
Manufacturing process used for items such as cylinders. Fibres have resin impregnated into them and are then wound over a form of the required part shape. |
Honeycomb |
Cellular structure formed into hexagonal cells, similar to that of a beehive. By using composite materials it produces an extremely lightweight yet strong component. |
MRP |
Materials Requirement Planning. Software for managing works orders, bills of materials, stock etc. |
Nacelle |
Protective shell of a jet engine, designed to provide insulation and noise reduction. |
Nest |
Refers to a selection of plies that are/have been cut from a roll of material. Nesting software is used to find the best pattern for material efficiency e.g. squeezing as many plies on the roll as possible. |
Ply |
One layer of material. A part manufactured from composite material consists of layers of plies. |
Prepreg |
Composite material combined with a resin. Prepreg material needs to be stored in a freezer to maintain usability. When cured under high temperature and pressure the fabric and resin provide exceptional strength. |
RFID |
Radio Frequency Identification. Alternative to barcode, often used for tracking items such as material through a factory. |