Advanced Manufacturing Capabilities

Autoclave & Ovens

Autoclave

• TEC 1000°F, 515 psi Processing Autoclave
  Capable of processing thermoplastic and thermoset parts for void free part fabrication.

Ovens

• Wisconsin Convection Oven 8ft x 10ft x 8ft chamber
  Large industrial convection oven providing uniform heating for curing, drying, and thermal processing of composite materials and large research components.
• Blue M Convection Oven 3ft x 3ft x 4ft chamber
  Laboratory convection oven for controlled heating, curing, and drying of polymers, composites, and test specimens under uniform temperature conditions.

Machining & Tooling

CNC Machining

• Haas Milling Machine model VF9/40
  CNC vertical machining center for high-precision milling of large metal and composite components used in research tooling and prototypes.
• Composite Machining
  Specialized cutting equipment for composite coupon preparation designed to reduce defect formation.

General Machining

CCM also offers a range of general machining capabilities that support component testing and assembly. These include saw cutting, lathe operations, milling, welding, and press-based processing, enabling precise shaping and finishing of composite and metal components. For more information on these capabilities, please contact the CCM technical staff.

Sample Preparation

• Harig Surface Grinder model 618
  6″x18″ Precision surface grinder used to achieve tight tolerances and smooth finishes on flat metal components.
• ACER Surface Grinder AGS 1020 AHD
  Automatic hydraulic surface grinder for high-precision finishing and dimensional control of machined components.
• Empire Glass Bead Cabinet model EF-2430
  Glass bead blasting cabinet for controlled surface finishing, cleaning, and preparation of metal components.
• Niagara Sheet Shear model 13
  Sheet metal shear for precise cutting and sizing of thin metal sheets used in fabrication and structural components.

Ovens & Presses

Interlaken SP75 Composite Forming Characterization Press

UD-CCM worked with Interlaken Technology Company to customize their SP75 hot metal forming characterization press to obtain enhanced functionality for high temperature composites at stamp forming rates. The system features a servo-hydraulic punch (15 kip) and platen/binder-ring (75 kip), 5 heated tool sets (425 C), a precise servo-value (hot) gas pressure control system, and a viewing port with an enclosed c-axis sapphire sight glass. When combined with in-situ digital image correlation, the system is capable of capturing unique material behavior in forming processes in order to evaluate process conditions, determine material properties for forming process simulations, produce coupons for testing mechanical properties after forming, and understand the effect of material architecture and part geometry. The Interlaken SP75 is compatible with thermoplastic and thermoset composites laminates with continuous fiber (unidirectional or woven) or discontinuous fiber (highly aligned or random), sheet metal blanks, and hybrid metal/composite blanks.

• Tandem Heated Belt Press
  Continuous composite manufacturing system to consolidate/cure materials into uniform laminates.
• CHANT 1000 Ton Heated Press
  High-force, precision press for liquid molding and forming application processes.
• Wabash 250 ton Heated Press
  High-capacity hydraulic heated press for compression molding, stamp forming, laminate consolidation, and curing of polymer and composite materials.
• Wabash 50 ton Heated Press
  Hydraulic heated press used for compression molding, laminate consolidation, and curing of polymer and composite materials.
• 1000 C High Temperature Furnace (GLO)
  Laboratory furnace capable of high-temperature heat treatment, sintering, and thermal processing of materials up to 1000 °C.
• 3000 C High Temperature Furnace (LHTG)
  Ultra-high temperature furnace for extreme thermal processing, graphitization at temperatures up to 3000 °C.

Polymer Processing

Extrusion

• DSM xPlore 10 cc Injection Molder and 15 cc Extruder
  Micro-scale extrusion and injection molding system for compounding and molding small batches of polymers and composite formulations for research and prototyping.
• DACA Microextruder Laboratory
  Microextrusion system for melt processing and compounding of polymers and small research-scale volumes.
• Berstorff ZE25 Co-Rotating Twin-Screw Extruder (400kg/hour)
  High-throughput twin-screw extrusion system for compounding, reactive processing, and continuous manufacturing of polymer and composite materials.

Nanostructured Composites

• Electrophoretic Deposition – Pilot Line
  Pilot-scale system for continuous electrophoretic deposition of coatings and functional materials onto conductive and non-conductive substrates.
• Exakt 80E Three-Roll Mill
  Precision three-roll milling system for dispersing nanoparticles, pigments, and fillers into polymers, inks, and functional materials.

Polymer Processing

• Anton Paar Monowave 400
  Microwave reactor for synthesis, featuring rapid, uniform heating up to 300 °C and 30 bar. Integrated with camera for real-time reaction monitoring.
• BEING Vacuum Oven
  Provides controlled thermal and vacuum conditions for effective solvent removal and material drying.
• Parr 5500 Series Compact Reactor
  Capable of handling high-pressure (up to 3000-5000 PSI) and high-temperature reactions (200).
• High Temperature Controlled Atmosphere Furnace
  Used for pyrolysis (upto 1600 °C) in inert condition (N2/Argon).