The Automated Composites Laboratory

Home to the 'only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere' Automated Fibre Placement robot, and world-class research, design, analysis, testing and manufacturing facilities all under one roof, the Automated Composites Laboratory is a one-stop shop for research and industry.

Through interdisciplinary and collaborative research with leading academics and some of the most advanced equipment available in any educational organisation, the Automated Composites Laboratory enables students, academics and industry to develop ground-breaking composite technologies to solve real-world challenges.

For more information about the Automated Composites Laboratory, please visit http://advanced-composites.co/facilities_unsw/

Composite Manufacturing Robot

This state-of-the-art Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) robot is the centrepiece of the Automated Composites Laboratory, and allows for the integration of computeraided design, analysis and manufacture of composite components. The AFP facility features a coordinated multi-axis robot and spindle system for maximum control over fibre trajectories and part geometry.

 

Technical specifications:

  •  6 axis robot platform with coordinated spindle
  •  4 tow thermoset prepreg processing head
  •  High-temperature thermoplastic placement head
  •  Part processing up to ~4m
  •  Integrated software for CATIA and Solidworks
  •  A range of flat and revolute tooling

 

For more information, please contact Professor Gangadhara Prusty at  G.Prusty@unsw.edu.au

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Instron 8804 Axial Servohydraulic Machine

Features a high-stiffness 4 column frame for testing up to 500kN. It can be used for static and fatigue testing of metals, composites and a large range of applications.

 

For more information, please contact Professor Gangadhara Prusty at  G.Prusty@unsw.edu.au

Instron CEAST 9350 Drop Tower Impactor

High-energy and high-velocity impact testing machine up to 1800J and/or 24m/s. Caters for a range of impact specimen types in a thermally controlled environment (-70 to 150°C).

 

For more information, please contact Professor Gangadhara Prusty at  G.Prusty@unsw.edu.au

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Instron 8852 Biaxial Servohydraulic Testing System

This +/- 100 kN +/- 1000 N.m Axial-Torsion actuator unit comprises of both linear and rotary actuator assemblies. The two are separated by a coupling mechanism enabling high speed, low friction torque and linear transmission.

 

For more information, please contact Professor Gangadhara Prusty at  G.Prusty@unsw.edu.au

 

ASC Econoclave

Industrial grade autoclave for specimens up to 1.1m diameter x 1.5m long. Maximum working pressure of 7 bar and maximum working temperature of 250°C.

 

For more information, please contact Professor Gangadhara Prusty at  G.Prusty@unsw.edu.au

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High Frequency Fatigue Test Machine

Compact tabletop servohydraulic dynamic material testing system that can achieve +/-25 kN force capacity and >100 Hz cyclic test frequencies (at lower forces).

 

For more information, please contact Professor Gangadhara Prusty at  G.Prusty@unsw.edu.au

Hydraulic Multiaxial Test Bed

16-square-metre envelope, 4-100kN Instron dynacells, designed to test large components under multi-axial loading.

 

For more information, please contact Professor Gangadhara Prusty at  G.Prusty@unsw.edu.au