I've heard that graphene and/or carbon nanotube composites are even stronger than normal carbon composites ( much stronger ). Is that true? What's happening with the developments along those lines? Can we expect a 787 DreamLiner with paper thin fuselage :-) ?
There are roughly 6.5 million accidents in the US per year. One major detriment to composite usage in unibody autos is the repair. To make the molding economical the panels are molded in large sections to replace several formed and welded areas. Another is recognition of damaged areas. Composites hide damage very well sometimes. This WILL help the auto industry one step closer to becoming another throw away product. Composites in monocoque structures make sense in race cars and exotics where the relationship of unit cost to repair cost is reasonable. The auto industry should focus on composite alternatives with secondary panels (outside body) and bolt ons i.e. bracing, seat frames, engine/trans mounts...etc.
Wind energy companies are another sector where composites are gaining ground. If you consider the evolution of product capabilities in key design tools like CAD and CAE as any kind of indicator, it would seem composites are being embraced in industries other than aerospace/military. Most of the CAD/CAE tools are incorporating specific technologies to address composite design and they actively target sectors like automotive.
One continues to associate composites with mil/aerospace, where cost is not much of a concern (it's borne by taxpayers). Similarly, the cost is worth paying to get the weight reduction when you're talking advanced race cars. So I guess the question is, how long will it take manufacturing to come down the cost curve, so that this stuff will be cost effective for production automobiles. Also, maybe I'm wrong here, but my understanding is that producing composite panels is much more time- and labor-intensive than is stamping out sheet metal panels.
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A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
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