Forging C/Thermoplastic Printed Composite, Shaping Parameters Impact

Abstract The innovative EPITHER process makes it possible to produce massive C/Thermoplastic composite parts with oriented continuous fibres in order to meet specific mechanical loading constraints for structural parts. This fibre orientation allows, as in the case of forging fibre pull-outs, to increase the mechanical strength of the composite product. Composite structural parts must also contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions by reducing the weight of parts in mobile systems, particularly those in motion for power transmission. This process consists of two or three steps, the preforming necessarily for the placement and orientation of the continuous carbon fibre composites required to increase their characteristics, pre-consolidation and shaping. In this study, the first two steps are performed simultaneously by 3D printing. In order to obtain finished products with good dimensional and material characteristics. This study provides elements for optimizing certain process parameters and the associated results, particularly at different steps in the forming process. In addition, this paper focuses on the movement of the material of the parts obtained by the shaping process. It links proceeding conditions and health of the material: for example, by determining the void ratio, fibre ratio.