3785/COMPASS/PRESS/JS/23-Press for COMPASS (Composites at Speed and Scale) Facility - AWARD

3785/COMPASS/PRESS/JS/23-Press for COMPASS (Composites at Speed and Scale) Facility

The University of Sheffield wishes to invite tenders for a 'Press' on behalf of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, Castings Group at Catcliffe, South Yorkshire.

Scope of Requirement

The AMRC has recently won funding for an 'automated, large scale composites manufacturing centre', including a 'fully automated layup and consolidation cell' which will incorporate a 10.5m (length) x 3.5m (width) x 2.3m (daylight) Press.

Within the 'Fully Automated Layup and consolidation cell' the Press will sit alongside a variety of other equipment, and will be in close proximity to the following:-

• oHigh Volume Deposition Cell - including Robot arms and guide rails;
• oPress Heater System;
• oPress Injection System;
• oOven Feed table.

The Press is to be used for manufacturing research into the production of large polymer composite components using several potential processes, including (but not limited to):-

• oDry fibre pre-forming;
• oResin Transfer Moulding (RTM);
• oGap RTM/ Infusion;
• oWet Compression Moulding and Compression Moulding of pre-preg.

Brief Summary of Requirements

Please see G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5 for our exact technical and functional requirements, however at a high level these can be summarised as:-

• oThe Press will have cold platens and that any heating for processing will be applied to the tooling rather than through the platens. A system of automated tool clamping, and location will need to be included within the tendered press platen package.
• oThe Press is expected to have a stroke of a minimum of 1500mm within the minimum daylight of 2.3m.
• oThe Press is required to have a moving lower platen that will enter and exit along the long axis from one end only. All controls and connections for the lower tool will remain active when the lower platen is fully extracted from the press.
• oThe AMRC is looking for flexibility in the size of tooling that can be used within the Press. The maximum size of component is defined for the purpose of this specification as 10m (length) x 3m (width) x 1.5m (depth) and this will require a minimum programmable force of up to 8 bar across the entire area of that part. Cost options for an incremental increase of this force up to 20 bar are requested (if possible).
• oIt is anticipated that the platens' size will exceed the maximum component size by approx. 0.5m in the X and Y axes (10.5m x 3.5m) to accommodate a part of 10m x 3m. To this end the tenderer is expected to recommend a suitable platen size within its proposal.
• oThe Press must be able to control the platens in a way that allows for tools shorter than the full length to be safely used. The limits to this function must be stated within your tender response.
• oThe Press will be expected to maintain the platens in an accurate Z plane whilst holding a full-sized tool open against a to...