The NCC has the only two ring braider in the UK. Comprising 288 and 192 spools, our braider is more than twice as flexible as a single ring braider. The two rings and a 10m long gantry enables us to braid complex circular, rectangular and convex sections, in the widest possible range from 50mm to 800mm equivalent diameter. The NCC braider is also capable of a very high deposition rate - up to 50 kg/h.
The braider can create hollow straight parts such as tubes and tanks or complex cross sections with curved profiles such as ducts, cones and horns.
The NCC introduced a filament winder with the ability to wind towpreg or wet winding of dry fibres. This high deposition rate machine has the ability of winding fibre around a pressurised liner using a 4-axis winding system.
Hollow, generally circular or oval sectioned components, such as pressurised vessels for gas storage in transport applications; hydrogen vessels, pipes, drive shafts, prop-shafts.
The National Composites Centre has designed and manufactured a full-scale prototype of a propeller blade and its manufacturing system for turboprop aircraft using a novel process that’s never before been attempted in this application. It has shown real potential to have a high-volume cost saving.
