Compression Molding Large Vehicle Parts
Compression molding with composite resins can yield very durable, strong, and well-engineered parts.
Placing reinforcements (usually fibered glass) and resin in a heated metal mold before compressing it under high temperatures will result in a finished piece with very unique properties. The parts made in these matched metal molds have very repeatable properties, high strength to weight ratios, and are corrosion and chemically resistant. The parts can be painted, and have many positive design attributes.
Ashley Industrial Molding is a company that manufactures such parts. These large parts are made with compression and RIM molding for customer such as John Deere and Case tractors. They have a good video demonstrating their equipment, processes, and finished parts.
5 Axis Filament Winder
Filament winding is a process that can be used to create round fiberglass shapes with exceptional strength characteristics. Used for piping, tubing, and tanks, filament winding is normally an automated process that has computer-controlled equipment to place glass and resin around a mandrel- the piece that functions as the mold.
There are many variables that can be modified for filament winding, and these will affect the strength characteristics of the finished piece. The angle of the glass, number of passes (thickness), use of glass mat, and type of resin will affect the finished product strength characteristics.
I found a short video that demonstrates the equipment and the process.
As you can see, the glass is applied in a consistent manner across the part, allowing for uniform strength characteristics. As you can see, this is yet another process that the composites industry uses to create useful products with advantages over those of competitors.
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