World's biggest autoclave.Composite parts and autoclaves keep getting bigger. Aeroform Ltd. in Poole/Dorset in the U.K. (U.S. office is Thermal Equipment Corp., Torrance, Calif.) is building what is believed to be the world's largest autoclave--30 ft diam. x 70 ft long (approx. 18,100 cu ft)--to form the fuselage of the Boeing 787 passenger plane. Three autoclaves that size are being built now--one for Boeing in Wichita, Kan., and two others under license by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagoya, Japan. Up to now, Aeroform says, the largest autoclave autoclave Vessel, usually of steel, able to withstand high temperatures and pressures. The chemical industry uses various types of autoclaves in manufacturing dyes and in other chemical reactions requiring high pressures. was 25 ft diam. and 90 ft long (approx. 16,200 cu ft), used for Boeing's stealth stealth Any military technology intended to make vehicles or missiles nearly invisible to enemy radar or other electronic detection. Research in antidetection technology began soon after radar was invented. bomber. The autoclave was designed with multiple motors impelling im·pel tr.v. im·pelled, im·pel·ling, im·pels 1. To urge to action through moral pressure; drive: I was impelled by events to take a stand. 2. To drive forward; propel. air circumferentially Cir`cum`fer`en´tial`ly adv. 1. So as to surround or encircle. , instead of one at one end, to keep the part temperature uniform, thereby reducing cure time and improving product quality. Tel: (310) 328-6600 * PT Direct: 756QT [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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