Design

The NCC Design team provides product lifecycle capability in composite and multi-material systems engineering. We combine our composite design expertise with advanced computer-aided engineering tools to create high quality design solutions for a wide range of industries and applications. Our engineers have a wealth of academic and industrial experience that is vital in supporting our customers to progress their ideas from conception through to manufactured prototypes.

How we can help

  • Read more about Conceptual design and detailed analysis

    Conceptual design and detailed analysis

    Proof of concept studies including materials and process selection, performance optimisation, geometrical features and cost analysis. High-fidelity modelling for failure predictions of composite and multi-material structures. 

  • Read more about Manufacturing process simulation

    Manufacturing process simulation

    Virtual manufacturing to understand and improve quality across the range of composite manufacturing technologies including preforming, automated layup, liquid composite moulding, injection and compression moulding and cure kinetics.

  • Read more about Tooling and test fixture development

    Tooling and test fixture development

    Design, manufacture and management of tooling, jigs and fixtures for a variety of manufacturing processes.  Design and development of inspection and test fixtures for product validation and verification.

Case study

Sit-Ski: HVM Catapult Technology Demonstrator

The NCC, in collaboration with HVM Catapult centre partners, developed the Sit-Ski, a device designed for disabled skiers. The NCC Design team played a pivotal role in the development of the Sit-Ski; providing overall technical authority to the award-winning project as well as designing, fabricating, assembling and testing a significant proportion of the primary structural elements.

One of the key successes from using a combination of experience with the right software products was the ability to carry out an entirely virtual assessment of performance and structural reliability before a single tool or component was manufactured. The whole process from concept to manufactured assembly took less than three months and would not have been possible without the help of the virtual design tools.

 

Keep up to date

Sign up to receive the latest updates, news and events from
the National Composites Centre