CCAT and Coast Composites team on aircraft manufacturing process
April 20--CCAT is partnering with Coast Composites in the fabrication of very large molds used in next generation aerospace structures. Coast Composites (Irvine, CA) has contracted CCAT (Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology) to relocate its 10kW Yb fiber laser from its East Hartford, CT facility to California to accomplish the final assembly of molds that are targeted for the fabrication of very large composite structures that will be used on the Boeing 787 "Dreamliner."
The CCAT fiber laser, produced by IPG Photonics, provides the current technology that makes this effort possible. The fiber laser has a higher wall plug efficiency (>25%) and significantly higher beam quality than conventional CO2 or solid-state Nd:YAG lasers, which results in less power required to produce comparable joint configurations and less cooling needed by the unit itself. The portability of the system makes transporting and set up of the laser easier and quicker. In addition to its use under this agreement, CCAT is investigating the use of the fiber laser for many other aerospace applications.
CCAT's CEO Elliot Ginsberg commented, " We are pleased to be working with Coast Composites on this major project. It provides CCAT the opportunity to showcase our unique capabilities and our capacity to assist high-technology manufacturing companies."