Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
Smart Tooling for Manufacturing Composites
Project Description
CRG's shape memory polymer (SMP) tooling technologies, Smart Tooling, offer cutting-edge manufacturing solutions that can meet the construction needs of all future composite platforms and systems. Development and implementation of Smart Tooling, Smart Mandrels and SMP Bladders, offers end users significant opportunities to save direct expense for tooling cost and manufacturing labor to fabricate complex geometry and trapped composites. CRG's concept for a high temperature mandrel product is to leverage a proven Smart Mandrel process and replace the current material system with a novel SMP capable of remaining rigid at the 350 F laminate cure temperatures then softening following cure for extraction.
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Anticipated Benefits
Applications of Smart Tooling to non-NASA applications includes primary aerospace structures, automotive components and body panels, structural architecture applications, wind energy, and others. CRG has had success selling the Smart Tooling product line to these industries as demonstrated by a total of 20 million dollars in sales over the last 4 years.
CRG has identified multiple composite applications that stand to benefit from integration of Smart Tooling into the fabrication process. These composites include stringer stiffened skins, composite fairings, ducts, and tanks. In addition to these applications the demonstration of a high temperature Smart Mandrel product will result in the products applicability to large dry structures such as the Ares main body. More »
CRG has identified multiple composite applications that stand to benefit from integration of Smart Tooling into the fabrication process. These composites include stringer stiffened skins, composite fairings, ducts, and tanks. In addition to these applications the demonstration of a high temperature Smart Mandrel product will result in the products applicability to large dry structures such as the Ares main body. More »
Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornerstone Research Group, Inc. | Lead Organization | Industry | Miamisburg, Ohio |
Langley Research Center
(LaRC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Hampton, Virginia |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Ohio
-
Virginia
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