Innovative Potted Insert for Sandwichs Panels
- Insert held in place by crimping operation
- Easy and reliable glue injection
- A visual inspection of the filling via the second vent hole
- No additional finishing operations
Démonstration SECAMnida (Composite Europe 2019)
Simple
Immediate handling after crimping
No needs for finishing operations
Light
50 % weight reduction
Strong
Higher mechanical strength
Pull-out 1800 N – Shear 3000 N
Fast
4 time quicker installation time
than conventional potted-in insert
Types d’applications
- Total Panel Thickness : 8 to 40 mm
- Skin Thickness : 0,5 to 2 mm
- Insert Material : Aluminium or Stainless Steel
- Thread : M3 to M8 or Imperial
SECAMnida© is not just a potted insert for honeycomb sandwich panels.
Its highly reliable technology revolutionizes installation.
This fastening has a reinforced locking thread and is crimped onto the upper skin of the sandwich panel by deformation of the part. This effective anchoring permanently holds the insert in position and means the panel can be handled without risk, unlike the current inserts which are held in place simply by a self-adhesive “positioning” tab and which can tip in their hole before or during the potting operation.
After crimping, the two-component potting compound can then be injected,
and filling is accurately controlled by the filling indicator.
1
Drilling
2
Trimming
3
Tab Installation
4
Insert Installation
5
Injection
Curing Time
Tab removal
7
Finition
Handling
1
Drilling
2
Crimping
3
Injection
Curing Time
Handling
Whereas the current NAS inserts require seven operations to install them (drilling, trimming, etc.)
and immobilisation of almost 24 hours for full curing, the SECAMnida© insert offers unrivalled efficiency.
It is fitted in only three steps, reducing the installation time from two minutes to thirty seconds,
and the panel can be handled immediately to continue its manufacturing process.
AUTOMATION A SURE BET WITH GEBE2
The two industrialists began working together at the Paris-Le Bourget Air Show in 2019. Aware of the difficulties and costs linked to automating the installation of NAS-type potted inserts, GEBE2 was seeking a reliable, economical solution.
An exclusive partnership agreement was signed to progress beyond the idea stage and produce a demonstrator.
The study was launched and GEBE2 developed an all-in-one robotised effector able to drill, crimp, inject the potting compound and perform a fully automated final inspection.
The alliance between the two industrialists has led to a fully robotised solution for the installation of fastenings in all types of sandwich panel, both honeycomb and other.
It offers numerous advantages:
• Improved repeatability of the insert installation operation
• Automation of quality control
• Possibility to provide traceability of all the operations
• Versatility and adaptability of the system to the geometries of complex parts
