Winding vs. Placement: Why the Same Machine Produces Fundamentally Different Results the theory At first glance, Laser-Assisted Tape Winding (LATW) and Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) for surface structures look almost identical. The end effector – laser, compaction roller, tape feed ... Fundamentals Process Jun 30, 2026
Why temperature is everything in the LATW process — and why process control is not a marketing promise Introduction: The invisible control variable Anyone processing thermoplastic composite materials knows the rule of thumb: The temperature at the nip point — the point where incoming tape and substrate... Fundamentals Process Jun 29, 2026
Tensile strength of thermoplastic UD tapes: Why testing methodology and manufacturing quality are crucial Why the true tensile strength of a UD tape is so difficult to measure Thermoplastic unidirectional tapes (UD tapes) made from carbon fiber reinforced PEEK, PPS, or PA are considered key materials for ... Fundamentals Materials Jun 24, 2026
Thermoplastic Matrix Materials for Composites: A Complete Engineer's Guide to Choosing the Right Polymer The thermoplastic landscape is vast – and that is exactly the problem When asked to select a thermoplastic matrix material for a structural composite component, an engineer often provides one of two r... Fundamentals Materials Jun 24, 2026
Configuring Thermoplastic Composite Tubes: How the Alformet Tube Designer Works Introduction Anyone looking to specify or procure a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic pipe for the first time faces an unfamiliar task: What winding angle do I need? What tape width is sensible? What doe... Fundamentals Process Jun 14, 2026
Endless fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (CFR-TP): What is behind the material of the future? What composites really mean – and why the term alone is not enough The term "composite" is older than many think. It simply refers to the combination of two or more materials that together achieve pro... Fundamentals Materials Jun 11, 2026
Laser-Assisted Tape Winding: Why LATW Is the Additive Manufacturing Process Composites Engineers Should Know Additive manufacturing for high-performance composite materials: The case for laser-assisted tape winding Additive manufacturing has fundamentally changed the way engineers think about production. Ins... Fundamentals Process Jun 11, 2026
Winding Angles in CFR TP Tubes Explained: How Fibre Orientation Drives Structural Performance Introduction In composite engineering, few design decisions carry as much weight as fibre orientation. The angle at which fibres are wound into a thermoplastic composite tube is not a cosmetic choice ... Fundamentals Process Jun 11, 2026
UD-Tapes: The material behind high-performance thermoplastic composite pipes Introduction Anyone developing high-performance lightweight structures will inevitably encounter one material: the unidirectional fibre-reinforced composite tape, or UD tape. It is the raw material fo... Fundamentals Materials Process Jun 5, 2026