Let's talk about braiding!

In braiding, a mandrel is fed through the center of the machine at a uniform rate and fiber yarns from moving carriers on the machine braid over the mandrel at a controlled rate. The carriers work in pairs to accomplish an over/under braiding sequence. Two or more systems of yarns are intertwined in the bias direction to form an integrated structure.

Braided preforms are known for their high level of conformity, torsional stability, and damage resistance. Either dry yarns or prepregged tows can be braided. Typical fibers include glass, aramid, and carbon. Braiding normally produces parts with lower fiber volume fractions than filament winding, but it is much more amenable to intricate shapes.

Three-dimensional braiding can produce thick net section preforms in which the yarns are so intertwined that there may be no distinct layers. The disadvantages of 3-D braiding are similar to those of 3-D weaving, namely, complicated setups and slow throughput. Resin microcracking can be a problem with maximum fiber volumes of 45 to 50 percent obtainable.

This video makes everything look so easy, right?

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