AFP Head SOW draft 2026.5.27.docx
DOCX document 29 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- N6893626Q5144
About this file
This is a Performance Work Statement for the procurement of a Thermoplastic Fiber Placement (TPFP) Head compatible with the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division's existing Trelleborg XTS-400 Automated Fiber Placement system. The TPFP Head will enable the Composites Engineering Laboratory to process thermoplastic resin materials in addition to existing thermoset capabilities, supporting the development of composite structures with improved strength-to-weight properties, increased toughness, enhanced corrosion resistance, and reduced lifecycle waste and processing times.
The contractor shall deliver a complete TPFP Head system that is fully interchangeable with the current thermoset processing head and includes the processing head assembly, feed motor and cable set, umbilical assembly, electrical and software updates, and technical documentation. Key technical specifications require the head to process single-tow slit tape material with heating capabilities between 250 to 975 degrees Celsius using a hot gas torch (with optional future laser upgrade capability), apply up to 150 pounds of compaction force, include a tape splice sensor for quality control, feature closed-loop control and monitoring of all functions, support an attitude degrees of freedom system for complex surface conformance, and operate with 480VAC three-phase power (estimated 60 amperes), clean dry compressed air at 100-150 psi (50 liters per minute flow), and clean dry compressed nitrogen at 100-150 psi (120 liters per minute flow). The contractor must complete internal bench testing prior to shipment, provide comprehensive documentation including equipment, software, maintenance, and wiring diagrams, conduct on-site installation and setup, deliver 1-3 days of personnel training post-installation, provide a one-year warranty against defects commencing from commissioning, include a 90-day spare parts warranty from shipment date, and arrange all packaging and shipping FOB Destination to China Lake, California. Equipment delivery is required within one year of order receipt.
View the file
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
Performance Work Statement for Automated Fiber Placement Thermoplastic Processing Head 27 May 2026
1.0 Background
The Composites Engineering Laboratory at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) China Lake designs, prototypes, and fabricates composite structures using a variety of materials and methods, striving to remain on the cutting edge of materials and application capabilities. Automated fiber placement (AFP) is a state of the art fabrication method used to place uncured tapes on to 3-dimensional tool shapes, supporting composite fabrication of asymmetrical and more complex, organic shapes that are typically not possible with conventional winding fabrication methods. The Composites Lab owns a model XTS-400 AFP system from Trelleborg (formerly Automated Dynamics) having a 6-axis articulated robotic arm, custom electronics, and integrated Fiber Placement Management (FPM) software. This system is currently limited to processing thermoset resins. To overcome inherent limitations from working with thermoset materials only, a thermoplastic (TP) fiber placement head is required for the XTS-400 AFP system. In comparison to traditional metals and thermoset composites, TP materials boast improved strength-to-weight properties, increased toughness and resistance to corrosion and water absorption, reduced brittle and fatigue failures, and reduced cradle-to-grave lifecycle waste, energy needs, and processing times.
1.1. Scope
NAWCWD intends to procure a Thermoplastic Fiber Placement (TPFP) Head fully compatible with our currently installed XTS-400 AFP system and interchangeable with the currently configured thermoset processing head. The TPFP head will enable the fabrication of composite parts having TP resins, adding to current capability to process thermoset resins. TP resin materials are critical to developing composites structures with improved performance for high-speed, long-range mission profiles and with reduced environmental and energy costs.
2.0 Requirements
The contractor shall provide an XTS-400 compatible TPFP Head that meets the following:
2.1 TPFP Head Design/Product Specifications and Performance Parameters
2.1.1 TPFP Head shall consist of the TP processing head components and assembly, feed motor and cable set, umbilical assembly, necessary electrical and software updates, and manuals.
2.1.2 TPFP Head shall be completely compatible with the Trelleborg XTS-400 AFP system currently installed at NAWCWD Composites Lab. Compatibility shall cover all system hardware, software, electrical and mechanical connections, and will require vendor supplied engineer/technician to conduct on-site installation, training, and maintenance.
2.1.3 The TPFP Head shall be interchangeable with the currently installed thermoset processing head.
2.1.4 The TP head shall adhere to Trelleborg’s consolidation process of TP prepregs.
2.1.5 TPFP Head shall be designed to process a single tow of ¼” slit tape thermoset material using non-independent tow/tape control or independent tow/tape control.
2.1.6 TPFP Head shall use a hot gas torch as the heat source with capability to be upgraded to use ¼” laser processing with optional future electrical cabinet upgrades.
2.1.7 The hot gas torch shall be capable of heating between 250 to 975 degrees Celsius with nitrogen gas flow between 50 to 100 standard liters per minute.
2.1.8 TPFP Head shall be able to apply up to 150 lbs. compaction force by an unheated stainless steel compaction roller.
2.1.9 TPFP Head shall include a tape splice sensor to detect overlaps, gaps, and joints in incoming tow before they reach the compaction roller.
2.1.10 TPFP Head shall include an arm mounted material creel with backing tape removal system mounted above the processing head.
2.1.11 TPFP Head shall use closed loop control and monitoring of all head functions, including at minimum material feed, cut, clamp, compaction load, and hot gas torch temperature.
2.1.12 TPFP Head shall include an attitude degrees of freedom system that supports improved conformance to complex surfaces.
2.1.13 TPFP Head shall include electrical system updates necessary to support interchanging the additional fiber placement head.
2.1.14 TPFP Head shall include a software update to end dome algorithm to support improved processing.
2.1.15 TPFP Head shall conform to facilities electrical requirements as follows: 480VAC, estimated 60A, 3 phase, 60 Hz.
2.1.16 TPFP Head shall operate with clean, dry compressed air at 100 psi minimum and 150 psi maximum, flow rate of 50L/min.
2.1.17 TPFP Head shall operate with clean, dry compressed nitrogen at 100 psi minimum and 150 psi maximum, flow rate of 120L/min.
2.1.18 Contractor shall make arrangements for and include cost for suitable equipment packaging and shipping to NAWCWD in China Lake, CA 93555.
2.2 System Support
2.2.1 Contractor shall conduct internal bench testing prior to shipment from the contractor’s facility and following acceptance criteria agreed upon between the contractor and NAWCWD. Results from this bench testing shall be provided to NAWCWD.
2.2.2 Contractor shall provide at least one physical copy and one digital copy of equipment and software manuals and at least one digital copy of maintenance manual and schedule, and wiring diagram to support the delivered equipment.
2.2.3 The contractor shall provide on-site equipment installation and set-up at NAWCWD.
2.2.4 The contractor shall train lab personnel at NAWCWD for between 1 to 3 days in the proper use of the machine immediately after installation – to include safety, software use and programming, and hardware operation.
2.2.5 Contractor shall provide an industry standard 1-year warranty against defects of material and workmanship from the date of commissioning at NAWCWD.
2.2.6 Contractor shall include spare parts warranty good for 90 days starting from date of shipment.
3.0 Deliverables
3.1 Equipment shall be completed and ready to ship from contractor’s facility from receipt of order within 1 year.
3.2 Thermoplastic Fiber Placement Head in accordance with Section 2.0
3.3 Feed motor and cable set in accordance with Section 2.1.1
3.4 Umbilical Assembly in accordance with Section 2.1.1
3.5 Electrical and software updates in accordance with Section 2.0
3.6 Results of internal bench testing in accordance with Section 2.2
3.7 Equipment manual in accordance with Section 2.2
3.8 Software manual in accordance with Section 2.2
3.9 Maintenance manual and schedule in accordance with Section 2.2
3.10 Wiring diagram in accordance with Section 2.2
4.0 Special Considerations
4.1 The Government will be responsible for providing the XTS-400 AFP system this equipment will be installed on.
4.2 The Government will be responsible for utility connections to the equipment.
4.3 The Government will provide common hook ups for electricity, water, inert gas, and compressed air as needed for the suite.
4.4 Natural gas and steam are unavailable at the installation site.
4.5 Shipping of deliverables is FOB Destination.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .