As part of the Epither project, 9TLabs and Setforge are working on the development of a large series process for composite parts
This July marks the start of a new collaboration between the Setforge Group and the young Swiss start-up 9TLABS. The main objectives of this new partnership are to finalize the development of a mass production process for the production of composite fiber components.
Initiated several years ago by Setforge, the Ecole des Arts et Metiers and the Institut de Soudure, the EPITHER project intends to prove that an industrial production of structural composite parts is possible. Indeed, unlike other solutions on the market using short composite fibers, parts produced using the EPITHER process are manufactured using long composite fibers. Obtained by a patented compression process, the parts have a fiber content of around 60% and a low void content of less than 1%. The process thus makes it possible to obtain high-performance components that can be envisaged for structural applications, in particular for the automotive and aeronautical industries.
In order to produce the preforms that will feed the compression line, Setforge turned to a technology still emerging in the field of additive manufacturing: the printing of continuous carbon fiber polymers offered by 9TLABS and its RED SERIES system.
Founded in 2018 by a team of pioneers from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, the young start-up has developed the RED SERIES system to obtain parts made of long carbon fibers by 3D printing. RedSeries is an "all-in-one" solution that includes hardware, Fiberrify ™ software, and application engineering. The Fiberrify ™ software suite uses integrated finite element calculation tools to help quickly define optimized composite designs for load cases, replacing less efficient metal or short fiber designs. It also helps structurally validate parts before printing, reducing iterations and streamlining development.
These expertises will quickly lead to a test production line that will validate the process and initiate the production of the first projects. For any further information: Damien.felix@setforge.net