Carbon fiber beams for ceramic tile printers.
Beams for the gantry of large mosaic and porcelain tile printers: much lighter than a metal beam and highly stiff, produced in series with a process designed to be fast and cost-effective.
A gantry that never stops moving.
In large mosaic and porcelain tile printers, the gantry carrying the print heads travels continuously. Every extra kilo demands more motor power, limits speed and transmits vibration to the print.
The proposal: replace the metal beam with a carbon fiber beam, with high strength and very low weight.
A process designed for series production.
Custom tooling
We design a mold with a custom support that lets us produce the beams quickly, repeatably and at a competitive cost.
The layered “sock”
We prepare a tubular, sock-type preform in advance, with the sequence of carbon fiber and other fiber layers defined for the beam.
Fast and repeatable
With the preform ready, laminating each beam in the mold is a quick, consistent process that made it possible to deliver batches of 15 beams.
Ready to install
We CNC-machine the pockets and slots and integrate the inserts for mounting on the machine.
Strength with low weight
A beam much lighter than its metal equivalent, with high stiffness for a gantry that constantly accelerates and brakes.
A transferable solution
Machine gantries and axes, automation and robotics, long tooling and even construction.
The beams.
Project carried out for a machinery manufacturer in the ceramics industry. For confidentiality reasons, we do not disclose the client's name.
A structure that needs to weigh less?
Beams, profiles, arms or fairings: we study the part with you, design the mold and the process, and produce it in series with costs under control.
Tell us about your projectAbout this project.
Why a carbon fiber beam instead of steel or aluminum?
Because it offers high stiffness with much less weight and damps vibration better. On a moving gantry, less mass means more speed and acceleration with the same motor.
Can carbon beams be produced in series?
Yes. With a mold and support designed for the process and a preform prepared in advance, lamination is fast and repeatable, at a competitive cost.
What other industries can use them?
Machine gantries and axes, automation and robotics, long tooling and even construction: any application that needs strength with low weight.