PROSEL, one of the 15 projects within the Composites Innovation Cluster funded by the UK Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI), aims to develop a software tool for composite component design and manufacturing.

Project partners Cranfield University (Lead), Axillium Research and the National Composites Centre (NCC) have completed compiling the first stage of information needed for the knowledge base.

First stage completed

A Materials, Process Selection and Design for Manufacture Guideline Tool will assist with the design and development of new composite component applications, and provide recommendation of materials and process selection, as well as design and manufacturing guidelines, depending on product application and requirement specifications.

The information compiled is currently being authenticated through discussions with UK supplier and designer specialists. The collated knowledge is also being built into a software tool to guide the selection of materials and process technology with manufacture guidelines.

The NCC will be contributing information on capability of the UK high-performance composites supplier community.

Composite components manufacturing

Currently in the UK composites industry, there is a vast array of both well-established and emerging materials forms and process techniques for the manufacture of advanced composite components.

However, according to the Composites UK, outside niche sectors there is an insufficient understanding of their applicability and limitations for component shape and affordable manufacturing.

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