Fabrication of Slender Struts for Deployable Antennas

Abstract

High moduli of elasticity potentially achievable. Suited for application in large diameter antennas on orbiting spacecraft. Fabrication process can accurately place dry graphite fibers and overwrap them with aluminum foil, resulting in straight, slender graphite tubes. Graphite fibers pulled out of creeled spools and fed through ceramic eyelets. Spools of aluminum foil mounted on rotating ring and capture graphite fiber as vertical winding machine carriage moves upward. Epoxy resin applied by mechanically spreading epoxy on tetrafluoroethylene mandrel by means of doctor blade attached to carriage.