GKN Fokker and Mikrosam develop AFP for the Multifunctional Fuselage Demonstrator’s floor beams and OOA consolidation of 6-meter spars for TPC rudders, elevators, and tails.

This article discusses GKN Fokker’s two-year development of the TPC floor beams in collaboration with equipment supplier Mikrosam (Prilep, Macedonia), including an innovative automated fiber placement (AFP) layup strategy using tow steering, followed by autoclave consolidation. A follow-on development uses a specially designed press and bladder concept to enable consolidation without an autoclave for the future production of 6-meter-long spars for TPC rudders.

This Article belongs to CompositesWorld.

For more information about our exciting automated solutions, be sure to stop by Mikrosam’s booth D51 in Hall 6 at JEC World 2023