Xenia, a strengthened thermoplastic composites for injection moulding and additive manufacturing firm, has partnered with Fly-Mi EUROAVIA Milano, the coed affiliation of the Politecnico di Milano, to assist the event of O.L.I.V.I.A. (Optimized Light-weight Clever Car for Instant Help), an autonomous drone.
O.L.I.V.I.A. has been designed to compete within the UAS Problem 2025, held within the UK, and the challenge marks the second consecutive yr of cooperation between the Italian firm and the Fly-Mi workforce. They beforehand labored collectively on the profitable NYX challenge.
The drone is fixed-wing and able to absolutely autonomous missions, and might carry a payload of as much as 1.75kg. To attain the exact aerodynamic and structural necessities of its excessive wing, the workforce wanted molds able to withstanding autoclave lamination cycles. For this, Xenia’s XECARB 40-C20-3DP was known as upon.
The composite is a high-performance 3D-printable polycarbonate strengthened with 20% carbon fiber, and which might face up to a number of autoclave cycles at 120°C and 2-bar with out deformation. It makes it supreme for the machinability required for the manufacturing course of, and the dimensional stability and thermal resistance wanted for an aerodynamically environment friendly wing.
“Xenia’s XECARB 40-C20-3DP materials allowed us to create molds that have been exact, sturdy and simple to work with in the course of the autoclave lamination course of,” said the Fly-Mi EUROAVIA Milano workforce.
“Having dependable molds was essential to attaining the aerodynamic efficiency and structural high quality wanted for O.L.I.V.I.A., and it performed a significant position in serving to us safe third place within the competitors.”
This second collaboration highlighted Xenia’s dedication to supporting and selling analysis within the area of superior composites for the subsequent era of engineers. The corporate’s Educational & Analysis Help Program is an initiative to assist advance data and expertise between its business specialists and tutorial counterparts.