Work In Progress: Big Braider

Work is nearing completion at Gallagher on an innovative large-scale braider for a public-private venture in the Midwest United States. With funding from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the group is developing a new prepreg braiding method for making composite parts for aerospace applications.

The new system will be the largest braider Gallagher has designed and built to date. The 144-carrier braider’s outer diameter is approximately 25 feet. Among the innovative aspects of the project is the system is designed to operate in a cold room, with temperatures as low as 30° F, due to the materials used in the braiding process.