Computer-based modeling and simulations are indispensable in industry today. The DITF uses state-of-the-art hardware, software and testing technology to design virtual scenarios for all types of textile production, for the application and loading of textiles and the fiber composite components made from them.

 

Our latest publication

CFRP EXTREME LIGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION FOR CUTTING TOOLS

H. Finckh, J. Sirtautas, F. Fritz, A. Dinkelmann und G. T. Gresser - DITF

The milling cutter is the most important component in woodworking. Customers' demands on the achievable surface quality with higher productivity are constantly increasing. The cutters available on the market are made of aluminum and have largely exhausted their lightweight potential. Lighter and stiffer tools could lead to higher surface qualities and productivity speeds as a result of higher rotational speeds and optimization of the vibration behavior, while also saving energy and thus giving the German woodworking industry a new impetus for innovation. The extremely lightweight carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic concept developed at DITF uses a completely new modular design principle with optimum fiber- oriented load distribution to achieve maximum weight savings with the greatest possible stiffness. Finite-element (FE) analyses show that the extreme lightweight tool can save more than 50% mass and increases productivity by 50 %. The economic and reliable production of the individual CFRP components with the required accuracy and tolerances is a major challenge. First functional tests of the prototyp extreme-lightweight CFRP planing head showed the high cutting quality and the possible performance and application potential compared to a conventional tool. The lightweight construction principle is transferable to other cutting tools of varying types and applications.

You can find the long version here.