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Fused-Particle Tooling NEWS<br />
Finished part, faithful replication<br />
The result is this large architectural panel, one example of what<br />
can be molded using fused-particle tooling and the DPM process.<br />
Formed very much like an automotive headliner with fabric-faced<br />
thermoplastic composite board, the part is aesthetically interesting<br />
and a faithful copy of the complex-contoured master. Once framed<br />
— possibly with addition of foam behind the part — it should<br />
provide sound-damping properties.<br />
stood on it, and it held strong. He has since refined the proprietary<br />
mix of particles, the films, and the framing system. Using the technology,<br />
which he’s currently calling fused-particle tooling (FPT),<br />
he now can create single- or double-sided compression-type<br />
molds extremely quickly and inexpensively. “It’s literally the case,”<br />
he claims, “that when you have a production quantity of only two<br />
parts — ever — that this tooling can be cost-effective.”<br />
FPT is ideal for use in Van Ert’s DPM molding system (see the<br />
accompanying photos). “These aren’t mockups or facsimile tools,”<br />
he claims. “They yield production-quality parts — automotive<br />
production quality.” He recalls that last year, Vantage was asked<br />
to make a fiberglass mockup of a headliner for a drivable highperformance<br />
car that would debut in an auto show. “The customer<br />
needed one headliner for this show car,” recalls Van Ert. “It took us<br />
one day after receiving the NC-cut model to make a tool and mold<br />
parts. We ended up giving them four parts for the price of one so<br />
Benefits:<br />
• High elongation film<br />
avoids bridging in<br />
corners and improves<br />
part quality.<br />
• Chemically resistant<br />
film avoids blown bags<br />
with aggressive resins.<br />
• Avoid cost of scrap<br />
and rework on complex<br />
phenolic parts.<br />
• Will never get brittle<br />
in low humidity<br />
conditions.<br />
• Available in WIDE<br />
width - 120” (3.04 m)<br />
Before Vacuum<br />
Stretchlon ®<br />
from AIRTECH<br />
PRESENTS:<br />
Stretchlon ® 700<br />
Vacuum Bagging Film<br />
After Vacuum<br />
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on our website.<br />
INTERNATIONAL INC. EUROPE Sarl ADVANCED MATERIALS LTD ASIA LTD<br />
CompositesWorld.com 31
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