An innovative and compact tensioning creel developed for high-speed and accuracy. The configuration of the guide rollers reduces stringer wrap-ups and fuzz. The standard ST2 can hold up to sixteen 9-inch diameter bobbins in an 82”x72”x40” footprint. The system can be customized and is compatible with towpreg and wet winding systems.

ETC’s CAT Creel tensioner uses sophisticated computer logic to accurately control fiber tension during winding. Each creel plugs directly into ETC’s filament winder control to adjust tension on the fly if needed. CAT Creels accepts standard 9” Diameter X 11” spools and are available with rewind for complex parts.

ETC’s simplest creel matches with any center-pull fiber spool for easy setup and reliable winding. Adjustable S-wrap tension bars provide a quick means of tension control. Each creel can accommodate 15 spools of fiber and payoff from the front or side of the shelf. Shelves can also be positioned to allow 30 tows to exit from a single exit eyelet plate.

A precisely adjustable doctor blade provides accurate resin content. Ideal for aerospace and high pressure applications. A 6.5” wide drum can handle up to 24 tows and a 5 liter resin pan provides resin for medium scale parts.

Provide resin for up to 60 tows with ETC’s Dip Resin Bath. Adjustable drag bars and squeegees provide resin content control. Ideal for applications requiring wide fiber bands or operations that use center-pull spools.

Modern filament winding is all about delivering fiber where it’s needed. ETC’s delivery systems delivers fiber from the tensioner to the delivery head, minimizing contact points and maximizing control. Each delivery system is customized for facility layout, fiber type and number of tows.

ETC’s towpreg delivery head provides the same level of control as the wet winding head but with all rolling contacts to work with today’s advanced towpreg fiber systems. Each head is configured for a specific tow width and number of tows.

ETC’s wet winding delivery head allows precision fiber control as it is placed onto the mandrel. The standard configuration provides flat bars, a comb and a D-ring to adjust the fiber band width and thickness. Custom D-ring radii, pin count, pin spacing and additional fiber band adjusting options are available to meet customer’s needs.

Give any ETC filament winding machine the ability to place shrink tape, veil or other spooled materials onto your mandrel. Tapes up to 3” wide can be placed with the same accuracy as fiber and with tensions up to 20 lbf.

Acts a physical barrier around a workcell to keep operators safe from moving machinery. Safety fences can include interlocked doors for workcell access and be combined with Light Curtains and Foot Controls for customized safety needs.

Light curtains provide additional operator safety to any ETC winding machine. Each system is customized to protect hands, limbs or bodies from touching moving components inside the work cell. The machinery will stop immediately when a beam is broken, ensuring a safe work environment.

Allow operators to maintain hand contact with the mandrels for tie-on/cut-off or placing local reinforcement while still being able to rotate the mandrel (forward and reverse) or stop it immediately as needed with foot operation.

For the highest production facilities the time it takes to tie-on and cut-off fiber before and after winding can significantly add to the total process time. ETC’s auto tie-on/cut-off system takes the place of an operator to perform these operations and increase throughput. Available for wet winding and towpreg systems.

Solidly support mandrels with the addition of a tailstock chuck. Ideal for unbalanced mandrels or delicate mandrels that may not withstand the axial force of a live center. The chuck is mounted to a standard Morse Taper and can be swapped with the tailstock live center for mandrel supporting flexibility.

As an Authorized FANUC CNC Systems Integrator ETC brings all work cell devices into a single CNC controller for a robust, easy-to-use system.    

As an Authorized FANUC Robot Systems Integrator Engineering Technology Corporation is also capable of using the latest robotics.