Rocket Lab’s massive 90-ton Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) machine is 3D-printing their Neutron rocket in Middle River, MD. The 39-foot-tall robotic machine will basically automate the production of all large composite structures of the Neutron launch vehicle.
This autonomous machine is capable of moving up to 98-feet in length and lay down continuous carbon fiber composite at a rate of 328-feet per minute. The AFP machine also has a fully automated real-time inspection system that hunts for minute defects throughout the laminated carbon composite and then proceeds to alert the machine operator of any issues before the machine begins laying down the next layer.
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As we build the world’s largest carbon composite rocket, it makes sense that we require a world-first carbon composite fiber placement machine. We’re combining our proprietary flight-proven carbon composite technology, additive manufacturing, and autonomous robotics to design and build large-scale aerospace components at a pace that will support not only Neutron’s launch cadence, but support Electron and carbon composites structures for our spacecraft customers too,” said Sir Peter Beck, Rocket Lab founder and CEO.
[Source]
