COMPCUT, the specialist division designing and manufacturing state-of-the-art composite cutting and machining solutions, powered by Sharp & Tappin, is continuing to receive widespread acclaim for its groundbreaking advanced composite saws from a leading international composite supplier.
Toray Advanced Composites UK has seen significant improvements to its mechanical testing operations since its acquisition of a COMPCUT ACS 600 in November 2022.
This mid-range sized COMPCUT machine is equipped with a substantial 600 x 600 mm panel size, which enables Toray to effortlessly accommodate large laminate sizes and test specimens. The size of the machine’s operation, in conjunction with a host of additional COMPCUT advantages, has helped to significantly enhance the sample preparation process for this Advanced Composites division of Toray Group.
Used daily over the course of eight months, the machine has been instrumental in producing test coupons from a range of materials, including carbon/glass fibre prepreg and Toray’s high performance syntactic materials.
Speaking on its reliable service, Toray Advanced Composites’ Product Development & Technical Manager, David Jones, said the machine ensured each sample was produced with an excellent surface finish and with a consistent level of accuracy; ‘The Compcut 600 has been a positive asset to our test specimen preparation. The specimens are repeatedly produced accurately with a smooth edge finish. The clamping system and easy clean down has also saved operating hours compared to our other cutting methods.’
his team throughout its initial installation period. David notes, ‘The machine saves time in set-up and clean down. Specimens are always within expected tolerances.’ The ACS 600 comes equipped with a protective, enclosed cutting platform that is standard across all COMPCUT cutting solutions. This provides added safety and protection for the operator while eliminating mess and reducing cleanup, which holds significant advantages for laboratory environments.
‘The ACS 600 has enabled a faster turnover of specimens compared to our other cutting equipment, and has been easy to train our operatives on,’ added David.
COMPCUT machines are swiftly becoming the norm for producing composite test samples, being acquired by more leading manufacturers, R&D test houses, and academic institutions. Earlier this year, COMPCUT teamed up with specialist partner Aptco Technologies to provide the standard in composite test sample cutting to the wider European market. The continued success of the ACS 600 at Toray Advanced Composites showcases the belief in this ongoing mission.
Jon Small, COMPCUT Head of Sales, said: ‘The response we have had from David and his team at Toray Advanced Composites has been fantastic. It is a thrilling testament to the possibilities for not only the ACS 600, but our entire catalogue of COMPCUT advanced composite saws and precision composite routers, that routinely demonstrate the six key attributes that form the COMPCUT promise—safer, cleaner, easier, quicker, cost-effective, and consistently reliable.’