The various UAV components are manufactured by CFT from composite materials, which also serve as the base of the final combined material of the project. The composite material components can be manufactured using the following processes:
- Autoclave prepreg
Manufacturing of composite components using pre-impregnated fabrics. For the processing and manufacturing of such components, the following equipment is required:
- Autoclave
- Freezer
- Clean room
- Wet-layupLiquid resin application on dry fabrics using brushes for the manufacturing of composite components.
- Vacuum infusionImpregnation of carbon, glass or other fabrics with liquid resin under vacuum using appropriate equipment and consumables.
In the context of the RADAERO project Nanotypos used combinatory top down and bottom up fabrication approaches to realize riblet type structures. Starting from ICT silicon fabrication processes and 3D printing techniques we developed the necessary steps to realise our master mould which contained high aspect ratio (positive relief) micro riblet structures. Creating a daughter mould and using UV embossing techniques we mass replicated our riblet structures over 10’s of square center meter areas on a flexible film.
For the realization of our MMA structures we implemented two parallel techniques. First we applied a spray coating approach to selectively deliver a thick conductive nanocomposite material on our flexible PET substrate. In a second attempt for the fabrication of our MMA structure, with the help of a shadow mask we selectively deposited a thin Aluminium film on our flexible PET substrate (Fig 3.).