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NEW PRODUCTS 7 2 | H I G H - P E R F O R M A N C E C O M P O S I T E S Design data module Granta Design (Cambridge, U.K.) demonstrated at JEC Europe 2014 the latest release of its Composites Design Data Module, which provides trace- able design data from the Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments (AGATE) and National Center for Advanced Materials Performance (NCAMP) global aerospace database projects. This material property data compilation covers the constituents, intermediates and processing steps used to generate more than 600 laminates, including design data tested in up to four standard conditions. It has applications across research, design, testing and simulation. www.grantadesign.com Noncontact optical linear encoder Renishaw (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) debuted ATOM, a noncontact optical linear and rotary incremental encoder system that combines miniaturization with dirt immunity, signal stability and reliability. With a readhead as small as 6.7 by 12.7 by 20.5 mm (0.26 by 0.5 by 0.8 inch), ATOM is said by Renishaw to be the world's frst miniature encoder to use fltering optics with auto gain control (AGC) and auto offset control (AOC) for enhanced signal stability and dirt im- munity. Applications include laser scanning, precision microstages and space- critical motion control (cutting tables, machining fxtures), inspection and metrology. ATOM features a low Sub-Divisional Error (SDE), low jitter, analog speeds to 20 m/sec and digital resolutions to 1 nm when used with Renishaw interpolation electronics. The readhead includes a set-up LED to allow quick and easy installation, and an auto-calibration routine to enable faster optimiza- tion. Scale options include linear and rotary (angle) scales in stainless steel and glass. www.renishaw.com Surfacing veils Technical Fibre Products Ltd. (TFP, Burneside Mills, U.K.) and Technical Fi- bre Products Inc. (Schenectady, N.Y.) showcased its newest Optiveil carbon fber veil, which it claims is one of the lightest nonwovens available, at a weight of only 2 g/m 2 or 0.1 oz/yd 2 . The Optiveil product line ranges up to 400 g/m 2 and is used for electrical conductivity, EMI shielding and stabilization for frag- ile reinforcements and as an adhesive substrate. Other developments include recycled carbon nonwovens and an extended range of lightweight PEEK, nylon, PEI and PPS thermoplastic veils, which can be incorporated as interlaminar layers in a composite structure to reduce microcracking and, thus, improve fracture toughness. www.tfpglobal.com Versatile ply-placement guide Visitors at the Anaglyph Ltd. (London, U.K.) stand had the opportunity to see the company's latest versions of its software products Laminate Tools, LAP and CoDA and see the new software/hardware capabilities of its trademarked PlyMatch ply-placement technology in action. Unlike conventional fxed, over- head-mounted laser ply placement systems, the PlyMatch system is designed to be uniquely fexible: Notably, its laser projection head and support arm and/ or the mold tool can be moved by the technician without system recalibration — the system self-calibrates — and its compact design enables it to guide manual placement on vertical surfaces and inside enclosed spaces. Further, the ply data can be generated by any CAD application, although Anaglyph's Laminate Tools application is recommended for full and integrated functionality without the need to generate additional data. Quality control is assured by the digital video recording provided by the system, enhanced by optional measure- ments of boundary deviation or fber orientation misalignment. Anaglyph noted that one of the frst users of PlyMatch in the aerospace industry, aerospace manufacturer Applied Composites Engineering (ACE, Indianapolis, Ind.), is us- ing PlyMatch to produce complex-shaped heated inlets for AgustaWestland's (Cascina Costa, Italy) AW 189, a new 8-metric-tonne class, multirole helicopter. www.anaglyph.co.uk/Placement.htm 0514HPC NewProducts-OK.indd 72 4/22/2014 3:36:23 PM