"Electroimpact is developing a new technology based on old technologies. Named SCRAM, or Scalable Composite Robotic Additive Manufacturing, the system is an integration of an FFF 3D printer and a thermoplastic AFP machine. The system is comprised of an accurate robot, a rotating build platform, and a climate-controlled build chamber. The end effector carries multiple material systems to print a soluble support material (the “tool”), a continuous fiber tape, and a chopped fiber material. Each print starts with the robot depositing the support material on the build platform. It then automatically switches to printing continuous fiber and chopped fiber-reinforced material to produce the part. The continuous fiber is deposited using “in-situ consolidation”, in which the tape is laser-welded to the substrate material and compacted in process. The resulting continuous fiber-reinforced parts are on the order of out-of-autoclave levels of porosity."

Read more from the JEC Group: http://www.jeccomposites.com/knowledge/international-composites-news/printing-continuous-carbon-fibre-true-3d

Electroimpact creates SCRAM, a true 3d printer and multifunctional manufacturing cell for complex, aero-quality continuous fiber composite parts.

Read more at Composites World: https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/combining-afp-with-3d-printing-for-flexible-parts-production

Electroimpact has teamed with BAE system to enhance the accuracy of off-the-shelf robots to deal with the precise tolerances required for military aircraft as part of BAE Systems Future Fighter - Factory of the Future.

Read the full article at Aviation Week

Credit: BAE Systems

SCRAM is a true 6-axis, industrial continuous fiber-reinforced 3D printer, which enables the tool-less rapid fabrication of aerospace-grade integrated composite structures. High-performance thermoplastics combined with a high percentage of continuous fiber reinforcement are used to produce parts with exceptional material properties previously unheard of in the world of additive manufacturing.

Read the full article at Composites World

Electroimpact has integrated a thermoplastic automatic fiber placement (AFP) process and an advanced fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing process to create SCRAM, which it describes as "an industrial, true six-axis, continuous fiber-reinforced 3D printer."

Read the full article at The Prospector.

Over the past few weeks, Electroimpact has been using our manufacturing resources to produce face shields and ear guards to assist in the fight against COVID-19. We want to say thank you to our healthcare heroes!

The Electroimpact Accurate Robot "COBRA" (Combined Operation: Bolting and Robotic Automatic-drilling) is enabling Lockheed Martin to manufacture the X-59 QueSST with efficiency, quality and affordability.

"Most recently, the X-59 program has leveraged a Combined Operation: Bolting and Robotic Automatic-drilling system to finish the lower wing skin of the aircraft. Simply known as COBRA, the robotic system drills, countersinks and inspects holes with a quality pass rate over 99.99%. Its use on X-59 marks the first time Lockheed Martin has drilled a production article with the COBRA system, pairing automation and robotics technologies to increase manufacturing speed and accuracy."

See more of the Electroimpact Accurate Robot "COBRA" in action here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lockheed-martin_ever-wonder-how-were-building-the-quietest-activity-6645687712600899588-4Mki

Electroimpact is a proud sponsor of the WSU Formula SAE team Wazzu Racing which provides engineering students with a hands-on learning opportunity and industry practical experience.