WHY
Heat treatment of cylindrical fiber composite components under rotation
HOW
Hot-air chamber oven with rotary device
WHAT
VTU 87/215/350 convection oven with pull-out drawer for up to 12 mandrel bodies
WHY | The challenge.
Freshly wound fiber composite molds must be cured in precisely defined batches and in accordance with a specified heat treatment program. In this application, three winding reels are removed from the winding machine simultaneously using a lifting device and transferred directly to the curing process without any intermediate handling. Four of these sets are then combined into a batch of twelve molds. A key requirement is that the winding reels rotate continuously throughout the heat treatment - including during all transfers. Rotation is essential for ensuring uniform material properties and to prevent gravimetric displacement of the matrix material during curing. At the same time, the entire heat treatment process must be documented individually for each mold. This includes reliable batch logging and barcode-based identification of individual products – with seamless integration into the existing ERP system.
The challenge was to combine protective handling, controlled rotation during curing and comprehensive data collection in an efficient oven concept.
HOW | The idea.
To meet these challenges, a vertical drawer oven with front pull-out was developed. This design allows the mandrel bodies to be loaded directly using the existing lifting device – with no intermediate handling. The drawer can be fitted with winding reels on both sides, so that the complete batch is positioned in one single operation. The winding bodies are mounted in such a way that they rotate freely. The rotary drive is integrated into the front of the drawer and implemented by means of a chain drive, including continuous monitoring. The drawer is guided on base rails and ready for future automation. At the same time, the concept includes batch logging through SIMPATI and barcode-based product identification. Communication with the customer’s ERP system takes place via an OPC/UA interface, which ensures consistent and trackable documentation of the curing process.
WHAT | The solution.
Drawer oven with vertical pull-out; Drawer pull-out adjustable in three levels
The resulting solution is a hot-air convection oven with an integrated rotation system, specially designed for the heat treatment under continuous rotation of wound-filament cylindrical fiber composite components. The system is based on the VTU 87/215/350 convection oven and features a vertical pull-out drawer with three adjustable pull-out levels. Each drawer accommodates up to twelve mandrel bodies, which are mechanically secured to ensure safe handling during operation. The winding reels are rotated by means of a duplex chain with an external drive, with rotation continuously monitored to ensure reliable, reproducible process conditions. Rotation speed is infinitely adjustable to match process requirements. The drawer is operated manually on rails embedded in the base and is fully prepared for any later automation. Special construction measures protect the system from short circuits caused by carbon filaments and ensure safe, long-term operation. All product-related process data is logged through SIMPATI. Barcode scanning and OPC/UA connectivity enable seamless integration with the customer’s ERP system, ensuring full traceability and reliable documentation of each curing batch.
Your advantages at a glance:
- Operating temperature range: 80 °C – 300 °C
- Spatial temperature distribution: < +/- 5 °C at 250 °C
- Space for 12 mandrel bodies with a total mass of up to 1,500 kg
- Infinitely adjustable rotation speed between 5 min-1 and 15 min-1
- OPC/UA i interface and barcode scanner for product-related data capture and storage
- Protection against short circuits caused by carbon filaments