The DiCoMI coordinator decided to launch an internal survey amongst the partners to defined the most prefered specifications and target applications for the DiCoMI system. This survey was not originally foreseen in the DiCoMI project but it complements the tasks and activities performed during year 1 in our work package on "Performance Specifications". The main results of the DiCoMI survey, without divulging too much, are summarised below:
Which industry/industries should the DiCoMI system produce parts for?
Which industry/industries should the DiCoMI system produce parts for?
- Automotive is the preferred industry.
- No negative views about the Consumer Product industry.
- Aerospace and medical are possible industries, but only if the parts are not safety critical.
- Defence and Marine Transport industries will not be explored.
- High performance and lightweight parts should be targeted.
- Parts that experience high loads, but only if they are not critical for safety.
- It is important that the DiCoMI system is low cost to meet the project objectives, as for the parts produced by the system.
- Continuous/long reinforcing fibres should be targeted.
- For a first version of the DiCoMI prototype system, short reinforcing fibres may be used.
- A dual-extruder approach may be used if it is the only way to include long reinforcing fibres.
- Pellets will not be used.
- Polyamide with long and short carbon fibres, or Kevlar fibres should be targeted.
- As PEEK processing temperatures are high, this material may be investigated separately from, and indirectly linked to, DiCoMI.
- PLA with long and short fibres is a possible option, certainly for "proof of concept".
- Mostly 'Off-the-shelf' filament materials will be investigated. There is no reason to develop a composite material that already exists but some new combinations may be explored (most likely a biocomposite).
- Biofibres and biocomposites will be considered using SCION's expertise and decision will be taken later on.