Automated Dynamics has announced the sale of its state-of-the-art Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) system to the Long Island Forum for Technology (LIFT), Bethpage, NY. The Advanced Material and Manufacturing Technology Innovation Center (AMMTIC) is a division of LIFT and is where the new AFP equipment will be located. This research center will comprise 25,000 sq. ft. and is currently being renovated for occupancy in the fall of 2013.

The AFP system includes a stand-alone, articulated arm robot with extended reach capability from Kawasaki Robotics; integrated spindle system with 48 in. OD x 120 in. L work envelope; a 48 in. x 96 in. vacuum table; Automated Dynamics electronics control cabinet with operator station interface; tooling for cylindrical and flat laminate structures; proprietary FPM and FPS fully-integrated software for machine control and fiber path generation; and 3 versatile processing heads with integrated creel systems: a 4 x .250 in. wide tape thermoset AFP processing head with Independent Tape Control (ITC); a 1 x .250 - .50 in. wide tape thermoplastic AFP processing head and a 1 x 3.0 in. (75mm) wide thermoset ATL (Automated Tape Layer) processing head. All Automated Dynamics AFP and ATL processing heads, for both thermoset and thermoplastic composite materials, are interchangeable and designed specifically for the robot platform.

Automated Dynamics, a pioneer in automated fiber placement (AFP) technology, develops and manufactures a series of robot platforms and systems sized to serve small laboratories, larger research centers and complete composite parts production environments. The thermoset and thermoplastic material capable robotic workcells can be stationary (stand-alone) or movement enabled using a twin-rail, integrated track system. Automated Dynamics has sold nearly 100 AFP machines and systems in the past twenty years to customers in 17 countries.

The new AMMTIC center will be a resource for all NYS companies who are interested in entering the composites market. It will provide access to process technology, equipment and expertise to design and qualify aerospace and industrial structures using advanced composite materials. Companies that currently produce products using metals will have the ability to design with carbon fiber and fiberglass composites that use both thermoset (epoxy) and thermoplastic resin matrices.

"The use of composites will continue to grow as the demand for lighter weight and more fuel-efficient aircraft, automobiles and other forms of transport increases," said Phil Coniglio, AMMTIC Project Director.

"Our new AMMTIC center will feature the versatile Automated Dynamics AFP equipment and manufacturing technology for prototyping and fabricating simple and complex geometric structures, using a variety of advanced composite materials. We will work closely with Automated Dynamics' engineers and technical experts to design and produce the high performance parts and assemblies that our member-companies customers need", he said.

Rob Langone, President of Automated Dynamics said, "We are fortunate and honored to be chosen by and associated with such a well-known organization as LIFT on Long Island. We look forward to helping AMMTIC grow the use of composite parts and our automated fiber placement manufacturing technology with their members and other companies no matter what industry they serve."