Automated manufacturing and processing of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites: An additive review of contemporary and modern techniques for advanced materials manufacturing

High throughput automated techniques are nowadays playing a key role in polymer composite manufacturing in a number of industries such as automotive and aerospace. There is a need to produce high volume parts efficiently. Automated manufacturing methods such as automated tape layup and automated fiber placement can produce composite parts efficiently, and with the advent of additive manufacturing the complexity of these components are increasing. This paper will review contemporary composite manufacturing methods filament winding, automated tape layup, and automated fiber placement, and the newer automation techniques of robotic pick-and-place and continuous tow shearing. It also addresses recent advances in composite additive manufacturing using vat photopolymerization, binder jetting, material extrusion, sheet lamination and powder bed fusion. Methods, materials and testing results of the manufactured components will be discussed.