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Posted by hipstomp / Rain Noe | 25 Apr 2011
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Comments (5)
We love it when companies not particularly known for it start putting a lot of effort into materials research. The latest case of this is Lexus and the bad-ass 360-degree loom they've developed to weave strands of CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) into three-dimensional shapes.
Lexus engineers saw the need for the loom after experimenting with making an aluminum-bodied car on an aluminum frame and concluding it would not be strong enough for their needs.
"Where this will pay off down the road," says Paul Williamsen, National Manager of the Lexus College research facility, "is in the future cars that will be even stronger and lighter."
Comments
BMC uses the same loom to make incredibly light and strong race bike frames.
Nice video. They probably got the loom from the defunct Toyota F1 team factory.
If Lexus "developed" this loom then they've re-invented the wheel. More likely, they bought it from a supplier. It's been used in the industry for some time now. It was originally developed in F1. Since then 3D weaving has become quite popular. Look at a company called Eurocarbon and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Toyota/Lexus tend to take credit for the work of other companies/individuals all of the time.
Similar set ups are used throughout industry. For instance K2 wraps their ski cores with wetted glass fibers in a similar manner.
Not a loom folks, just a braiding machine, although a modern version of it. Seen these and have worked on similar braiding rocket nozzles.