W.M. Keck Composites Laboratory
The Keck Composites Lab, located in JD 1130, facilitates a place for a composites laboratory class to take place, and a place where students can come and make composite components for their student and research projects. The lab allows students to learn many fundamental hands-on skills relating to creating their own molds, laying up composite parts, and post-cure processing (machining, drilling, and cutting). Students can do wet and prepreg layups with the use of a vacuum pump, oven and/or autoclave.
Major Equipment
An autoclave is a pressurized chamber used to process composite parts and materials by creating a controllable environment. The outer body of the pressure vessel is made of high grade carbon steel confirming to ASME Pressure Vessel standards. Internally, the vessel is lined with layers of mineral wool insulation and held in place with aluminized steel sheet metal. Vacuum lines and transducers are present on either sides of the chamber wall. There is a centralized vacuum system in Keck Composites Laboratory which provides vacuum lines to autoclave and oven.
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions (internal): 1.2m (diameter) x 3m (length) (4’ x 10’)
- Max operational pressure: 9bar (130 psi)
- Max operational temperature: 260C (500 F)
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions (internal): 0.9m (width) x 1.8m (depth) (3’ x 6’)
- Maximum operating temperature: 260C (500 F)
- Rack loading system (5 racks)
Dimensions (internal): 40cm x 30cm x 5cm (16" x 12" x 2")
- Dimensions (machine bed): 1.8m x 1.8m (6’ x 6’)
- Used for making (foam) molds for composite layups
- Milling
- Band Saw
- Drill Press
Resources
This plane was manufactured using composite parts by the Aero Senior Design Team (2016-17).
CSUN’s 2016-2017 Human Powered Vehicle, named the Deadliest Khach, was designed to be a lightweight, efficient, and effective mode of transportation, while keeping both rider and bystander safe. Deadliest Khach is a three-wheeled semi-recumbent vehicle with a full fairing. The frame is the team’s first hybrid frame, made of a combination of carbon fiber structural tube members and 4130 steel tube structural members and joints. Deadliest Khach makes use of a fairing to improve its aerodynamic properties at higher speeds, making the vehicle a more viable choice for everyday transportation. This fairing is constructed from two layers of carbon fiber with strips of Lantor-Soric XF® reinforcements sandwiched in between. These reinforcements provide localized rigidity while keeping overall vehicle weight to a minimum. Deadliest Khach competed at the 2016-2017 ASME HPVC West E-Fest, where it helped bring home a total of six trophies – including first overall.
Address:
W.M. Keck Composites Laboratory
Jacaranda Hall 1581
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330
Faculty Supervisor: Christoph Schaal
Any other inquiries: composites-g@csun.edu