3 d braided composites: jacquard loom 2.0

Behind the most advanced technology

My friends said to me:"PatrickSection, since you want to go to Lyon in the light, you must go to see 'the home of textile workers'(Maison des Canuts)This is a show19Century silk museum of life.There is one of the most legendary jacquard loom, you can even see one of them is still in operation."

Now it's all fascinates me, because I 亚慱体育app官网下载iosam in Commercy lorraine area in the east (France) Safran Aero Composite engineer of the factory.we使用 3D 编织复合材料和树脂传递成型 (RTM) 工艺制造新的 LEAP 发动机的风扇叶片和外壳，延续了这种有数百年历史的编织工艺，但加入了现代的改良。

Therefore, in the magical light show, before I take a 12 year old son, Paul came to visit the museum in the Croix - Rousse blocks.I have explained to Paul before, "the home of textile workers" is one of the few in the world can see one of operation of mechanical jacquard loom.This is Joseph - Marie Jacquard machine invented in 1801, by a worker to operation - is a revolution of the textile industry!

Inventions, reengineering...innovation

You see in the museum of the first model clearly to know its age.Tour guide said that the Lyon, a native of outstanding inventors, one of its main goal is to limit child labor, because at that time, parents often ask children in very difficult conditions to work with them.Jacquard loom using early programming system based on punch card to create very complicated patterns.As a tour guide told us,"Some historians believe that this kind of machine is, in fact, the ancestors of today's computers and robots."

At this point, I whispered to him:"You see, it just like what I do.We also use the weaving technology for the newLEAPEngine parts."This seems to make son creates new interested in me.He asked after paused: "that you invented?"It is difficult to use a few words to answer this question, but I try my best.

"Safran is simply applying the principle of you in front of the magic machine.To some extent, this old jacquard loom can say is that we use today by safran engineers invented patent 3 d weaving technology to produce composite engine parts of the ancestors of the machine."

The world's only similar manufacturing process

In describing the loom over the years after the technical improvement, the tour guide invited us to watch the demonstration.Huge loom reminds me of the super Commercy factory distant ancestors of modern machines, our machines using 3 d braided composites produced a new generation of LEAP engine fan blade and the shell.These new parts has greatly reduced the weight, thus reducing fuel consumption and reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx).

Constantly intertwined lines reminds me of our own 3 d woven RTM (resin transfer molding) composite materials manufacturing process, this process is with 50 years of experience in the field of industrial weaving design of Albany International cooperation in the United States.We saw in the museum and is very similar to our own factory, tens of thousands of fiber woven caused a particular pattern, to give some parts quality and make it conform to the specifications.To make a single fan blade, we need seven kilometers of fiber (about 4-1/2 mile)!But these old loom to guide to boast about how fast into the fabric of all sorts of colorful design, but I still can't help but think of how much in our own process, save time, thanks to automation and digitalization.Now, from the beginning of the fabrication of the original design to weaving only need a few days time, and use the manual method need several months before.

The emergence of new applications

Composite material represents the shift of the aerospace industry.They set the intensity and light at a suit, made important contribution to improve the efficiency of the engine.Compared with the traditional metal blade, the 3 d woven RTM composites - each plane blade can greatly reduce the weight about 500 kilograms (1100 pounds) of weight loss!The next step is to extend the use of these materials to mechanical or thermal stress larger aircraft engine parts, such as compressor.

Return to the museum gift shop, I asked my son,

"Paul, you want to visit my factory, see how do we do?