Ovens for Composite Manufacturing
In our series looking at the composites industry, we have investigated what composites are and how they are manufactured.
Now it’s our chance to look at what machinery is needed, specifically looking into composite curing.
We have learnt that curing composites need two key inputs; pressure and heat. The pressure ensures the composites materials are bound tightly and saturated in resin within confined moulds whilst in they are in their uncured form. Then the heat is used to cure to resins, setting them hard.
Heat and pressure can be achieved with the following machinery
Hydraulic Presses with Heated Surfaces
Specialised moulding presses use tonnes of pressure to mould composites together and heated faces (platens) provide heat.
Autoclaves
Many composites are cured in Autoclaves. These high-pressure vessels provide heat and pressure often to high tolerances for industries like aerospace.
Industrial/ Composite Ovens
Given composites are cured with heat and pressure these can be achieved with a combination of high-quality industrial ovens and vacuum bagging. This is a very common and accessible way to work with composites.
What is Vacuum Bagging?
Used with both Autoclaves and Composite ovens vacuum bagging simply involves sealing composite layers, resins and moulds into a bag and pulling a vacuum. This pulls all the component parts tightly together and the sealed vacuum bag is then heated to cure the resin.
In practice, vacuum bagging composites has several manufacturing steps including an industry dedicated to solving problems like pealing the vacuum bag away from the composite once cured.
Fundamentally it is a flexible approach that is very accessible when manufacturing composite materials. Small to very large parts can be produced at relatively low pressures reducing the cost of machinery and tooling.
A Word on Prepregs
One of the challenges of working with any liquid/resin is getting a consistent application, especially across large sheets of material. This includes achieving the right ratio of liquid/solid so there is no excess.
A prepreg is a pre-impregnated sheet of composite fibre with the correct and controlled resin consistency to improve the quality of the manufacturing process.
Otherwise prepregs need to be fitted to moulds and cured with pressure and heat, like many other composites.
Industrial Ovens for Composite Manufacturing
When the vacuum bagged composite is prepared and ready for curing the requirement of a quality oven comes into play.
For an oven that is suitable for composite curing, naturally a higher specification comes with a higher cost. For the top end of manufacturing composites, autoclaves are the most frequently used for curing. Able to heat composites whilst inside a high pressured chamber, the price of an autoclave is costly. Composite Ovens are a cost effective alternative and can include features to match the specification of the composites being cured.
What factors do you need to consider with a composite oven?
Temperature
All resins have a curing temperature which the composite needs to be consistently heated to. As all ovens have a max operating temperature and an operating range they are most effective at, matching the curing temperature to the operating range will give the best results.
Accuracy
The accuracy an oven can hold a temperature is called the uniformity and is often expressed as ± 3°C or ± 5°C etc. indicating the fluctuation of target temperature in the oven chamber. The more accurate the oven the higher the price so this should be matched to the specification of the resin being cured. Factors affecting accuracy include build quality, instrumentation quality, airflow around the oven chamber and calibration schedules.
Size
Often expressed in litres with the width, depth and height, the oven chamber defines the maximum size of the parts that can be cured and the number of parts than can be cured at once. Although using an oven that is too big wastes energy.
Programming and Recording
Some composites and resins require heating in stages, at a specific rate, maintaining at the set temperature or even cooling at a defined rate. These ramp ups, set points and ramp downs are handled by the oven controller. Recording what happened during a process cycle is achieved with a temperature recorder.
Buying Composite Ovens
Riley Surface World is uniquely placed to provide composite ovens. Our warehouse contains and extensive stock of used ovens, available very quickly, and great prices. These ovens contain a wide range of features to a wide range of specifications so can be matched to your composite curing needs.
Additionally, Rileys offer a full range of Brand New Composite ovens to a wide specification range.
The range starts with laboratory sized ovens perfect for smaller parts, through to large electric ovens operating at up to 600°C. At higher temperatures of specific features Riley’s range of SNOL Ovens offer high quality, cost effective options.
If you have a requirement for a particular uniformity, programming requirement or have a specification in mind such as AMS2750 or NADCAP Rileys can find a solution for you.
JLS (Redditch) Ltd Rapid Quench 550°C Electric Oven
This JLS 550°C, electric, front loading, rapid quench oven is a forced convection type oven with re-circulating air. With a calibrated work area of 1100mm x 2300mm x 1100mm, this NADCAP & AMS2750D (± 6°C) standard oven was previously used for annealing components to an aerospace specification.
- Stock No
- AEF200
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- JLS (Redditch) Ltd Annealing Treatment Oven
- Year of Manufacture
- 2008
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 1400 x 2500 x 1200
- Max Temp
- 550°C
- Other Info
- Rapid Quench
- Condition
- Seen working by RSW, Excellent Condition
- Location
- Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
- Part of a Direct Site Clearance
- Aeroforma – Preliminary Announcement
JLS (Redditch) Ltd 300°C Precipitation Hardening & Ageing Oven - AMS2750D
JLS precipitation hardening & ageing, forced convection oven built to AMS2750D & Nadcap class 2 (± 5°C) standard, previously used for the heat treatment of aluminium aerospace components and last calibrated November 2024.
- Stock No
- AEF300
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- JLS (Redditch) Ltd Precipitation Hardening & Ageing Oven
- Year of Manufacture
- 2008
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 1200 x 2500 x 1200
- Max Temp
- 300°C
- Other Info
- Calibrated November 2024 ± 5°C @ 200°C
- Condition
- Seen working by RSW, Excellent Condition
- Location
- Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
- Part of a Direct Site Clearance
- Aeroforma – Preliminary Announcement
SNOL 350°C Industrial Oven Range
350°C general purpose batch ovens, ideal for a vast range of low temperature thermal processes such as drying, curing and pre-heating.
- Stock No
- NEW070
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- SNOL
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 350°C
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
SNOL 650°C High Temperature Oven Range
General purpose high temperature, industrial, batch ovens which set the standard for a wide range of industrial processing applications
- Stock No
- NEW071
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- SNOL
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 650°C
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
SNOL 650°C High Temperature Oven with Powered Door
General purpose high temperature, industrial, batch oven suitable for a wide range of industrial processing applications. Includes a vertical powered door.
- Stock No
- NEW072
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- SNOL
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 600 x 750 x 900
- Max Temp
- 650°C
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
SNOL Custom Build Furnaces & Ovens
Custom built ovens and furnaces to meet your project requirements and standards.
- Stock No
- NEW079
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- SNOL
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
Romer 200°C Industrial Oven Range
200°C general purpose, electric, batch ovens from 3.4m3 upwards. Ideal for a vast range of low temperature thermal processes such as drying, curing and pre-heating.
- Stock No
- NEW080
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- Romer
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 200°C
- Other Info
- Touchscreen Control plus iCure Software
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
Romer 200°C Convection Industrial Oven Range
200°C electric, batch ovens from 3.4m3 upwards. Without a fan' these ovens are a very cost effective option or ideal for delicate processes that cannot tolerate air movement.
- Stock No
- NEW081
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- Romer
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 200°C
- Other Info
- Radiant heating
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
Romer Essential Electric Oven Range
200°C general purpose, electric, industrial ovens from 3.4m3 upwards. Ideal for a vast range of low temperature thermal processes such as drying, curing and pre-heating. The Essential range is a cost effective solution where temperature recording is not required.
- Stock No
- NEW082
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- Romer
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 200°C
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
Romer 300°C Industrial Oven Range
350°C general purpose, electric, batch ovens from 0.9m3 to 8.4m3 in size. Ideal for low to medium temperature thermal processes such as drying, curing and pre-heating.
- Stock No
- NEW083
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- Romer
- Year of Manufacture
- Brand New
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 300°C
- Other Info
- Touchscreen Control plus iCure Software
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
Romer 600°C Industrial Oven Range
600°C general purpose, electric, batch ovens from 0.9m3. Ideal for range of medium to high temperature thermal processes. Ideal for tempering, glass annealing, drying, preheating, and stress relieving of various materials.
- Stock No
- NEW084
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- Romer
- Year of Manufacture
- Brand New
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 600°C
- Other Info
- Touchscreen Control plus iCure Software
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
Romer Custom Built Industrial Ovens
Romer and RSW are working together to offer custom built ovens manufactured to your requirements and specifications. The perfect solution if you know what you need and cannot get it as a standard oven. High quality build standards and low prices define a very competitive package.
- Stock No
- NEW085
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- Romer Various
- Year of Manufacture
- 2023
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Other Info
- Custom Ovens For customer requirements.
- Condition
- Brand New, Unused, Current Model
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
Romer 250°C Industrial Oven Range
250°C general purpose, electric, batch ovens from 3.4m3 upwards. Ideal for a vast range of low temperature thermal processes such as drying, curing and pre-heating.
- Stock No
- NEW086
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- Romer
- Year of Manufacture
- Brand New
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 250°C
- Other Info
- Touchscreen Control plus iCure Software
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
Romer 350°C Industrial Oven Range
350°C general purpose, electric, batch ovens from 0.9m3 to 8.4m3 in size. Ideal for low to medium temperature thermal processes such as drying, curing and pre-heating.
- Stock No
- NEW087
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- Romer
- Year of Manufacture
- Brand New
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 350°C
- Other Info
- Touchscreen Control plus iCure Software
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
Efco Top Loading Roller Lid Electric Drying and Treatments Oven
Efco Top Loading Well Type Roller Lid Electric Drying and Treatments Oven
- Stock No
- OA2172
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- Efco Well Type Drying and Treatments Oven
- Year of Manufacture
- 08.1999
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 1800 x 1800 x 2000
- Max Temp
- 150°C
- Other Info
- High 36kw rating
- Condition
- Seen working by RSW, Excellent Condition
- Location
- Rolls Royce stores, near Derby, UK
- Availability
- Available for immediate collection
- Sold As Seen Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
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