Carbon Artwork and CFRP Artistic Productions

Contents

Who is Uchida Co., Ltd.?
CFRP Characteristics and Applications
CFRP Molding Methods
Works of Art × CFRP
- A World without 3D Data
Uchida’s Key Traits
Summary

Who is Uchida Co., Ltd.?

Headquartered in Miyoshi-cho of Saitama Prefecture (Japan), Uchida was first founded as a mannequin manufacturer in 1968. This year, 2023, marked 55 years of operation and achievements in product creation and manufacturing.

While starting out in FRP production using glass fibers, Uchida currently maintains a core focus on prototype development and high-mix low-volume production using carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs). The distinctive qualities of carbon fiber/carbon fiber reinforced plastic have led to growing popularity and application as a material of choice for works of art, designer pieces, and similar.

Commemoration Logo: 50 Years of Manufacturing

Designed to showcase 50 years of history in manufacturing.

CFRP Characteristics and Applications

CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) is distinguished by its unique “lightweight, strong, and non-corrosive” properties. Moreover, its anisotropy, whereby the strength is determined by the fiber orientation, means that the material and laminate configuration must be tailor-designed for each product. Advanced-level CFRP further maximizes these characteristics, offering versatility and unique advantages for applications in a diverse range of fields and industries.

Major CFRP applications include the B787 and other aircraft-related products. Here, CFRP components are widely employed in the fuselage (body) and other areas of airplanes to reduce the weight, thereby enhancing fuel consumption, and extending the cruising range.

These days, CFRP applications spans diverse industries with growing popularity in aerospace (rockets and artificial satellites), automobile, motorbike, defense, medical and welfare fields to sporting equipment, bicycles, wind-power generation, robotics, and industrial equipment fields. In the art world, CFRP offers solutions not only for weight reductions but for those wishing to preserve works of art in good condition for generations to come. Its non-corrosive and non-rust properties have significantly expanded possibilities in these areas.

CFRP Molding Methods

Autoclave Molding

RTM (Resin Transfer Molding)　

Va-RTM (Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding)

Press Molding

Hand Lay-up Molding

Filament Winding Molding

Sheet Winding Molding

Pultrusion

3D Printer

Molding methods for CFRP are numerous and are selected according to the desired application, shape, and production lot.

At Uchida, we use the fabrication methods shown in red.

Works of Art × CFRP

A World without 3D Data

Industrial CFRP products and similar are generally created from 3D product data before proceeding to the manufacturing stage.

However, with works of art and designer pieces, the contours and form are born from the creative intuition and vision of the designer or artisan. Instead of 3D data, a master mold (a physical master mold of the item) is created from clay or clay foam and then used to create an inverted mold for manufacturing.

Uchida’s Key Traits

The majority of CFRP manufacturers focus on creation using 3D data. At Uchida, with origins in mannequin manufacturing using FRP-molded products, we offer honed experience in CFRP production from physical master molds as well as 3D-data-based manufacturing. *Manufacturers with such a history and techniques are rare these days.

Furthermore, at Uchida, we pride ourselves on one-stop manufacturing of CFPR and composite materials from design to mold fabrication, various CFRP molding, secondary processing, assembly, coating, quality assurance, and testing. With extensive molding facilities and large-scale autoclaves (φ3000 × L6000mm), Uchida showcases a strong track record in large-scale and monolithic items.

Summary

This article explored CFRP application in works of art and design pieces.

Making Headways in Various Industries and Fields

CFRP exhibits distinctive “lightweight, strong, and non-corrosive” characteristics. Companies that can fabricate CFRP items from a physical master mold, without 3D data generation, are somewhat of a rarity these days. Moreover, as works of art and designer pieces are generally produced in small lots, even if you find a company willing to take on your project, the deciding factor will ultimately be the degree of craftsmanship and skill set of the technicians.

ABOUT UCHIDA - 55 years since our founding

We leverage a wealth of technical expertise as a CFRP molding and processing manufacturer using FRP, GFRP, and CFRP materials. We offer a one-stop solution, encompassing design, analysis, manufacturing, secondary processing, assembly, painting, quality assurance, and testing.

See Details

UCHIDA's equipment

We have cutting-edge equipment to ensure that we can address even the most advanced challenges of our customers.

DMG森精機 - VS1000/40/2050
X軸：2,050mm（ストローク）／ Y軸：1,000mm ／ Z軸：600mm ／テーブル作業面：2,250×1,000mm

ASHIDA MFG Co., Ltd.
Autoclave Oven 2
Size : Ø1,150x1,000mm / Operating temperature : at normal temperature - 400℃ / Design pressure : 2.0Mpa (maximum working pressure) / Vacuum system : back suction system / Vacuum units : 5

ASHIDA MFG Co., Ltd.
Autoclave Oven 3
Size : Ø3,000x6,000mm / Operating temperature : at normal temperature - 200℃ / Distribution accuracy : ±2.5℃less / Heating rate : 4.0℃/min. (empty furnace) / Cooling rate : 4.0℃/min. (empty furnace) / Design pressure : 0.99Mpa (maximum working pressure) / Working pressure : 0.7Mpa less (if no specification from the manufacuturer 0.3Mpa around) / Pressure accuracy : ±0.02Mpa（for pressure setting of ０ - 0.99Mpa/cm²） / Boost pressure accuracy : 0 - 0.03Mpa/min / Pressure source : compressed air (regular use) / Vacuum system : back suction system / Vacuum units : 10

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Oven
Size : W1,000xH1,000xD1,000mm / Temperature range : Environmental Temperature +20 - 300℃ / Temperature elevation capability : Environmental Temperature (20 - 40℃) - 300℃ / 45min less / Vacuum system : back suction system / Vacuum units : 10

ESPEC CORP.
Temperature & Humidity Chamber

INSTRON
Static Universal Testing Machine 5985

Oven
Size : W7,000xH3,000xD2,000mm / Temperature range : Environmental Temperature +20 - 300℃ (Max) / Temperature elevation capability : Environmental Temperature (20 - 40℃) - 300℃ / 60min less / Vacuum system : back suction system / Vacuum units : 10

NEO
X axis : 4,000mm (stroke) / Y axis : 2,000mm / Z axis : 1,200mm / C axis : 0° - ±270° / B axis : 0° - ±110° / Table working place : 4,000x2,000mm

【開発】
3Dプリンター | Markforged

Painting booth
Various painting, and clear finish is done in dedicated painting booth

Adhesion, Finishing, Coating Room
Finishing process, such as trimming, drilling, and bonding, surface treatment of the molded product type and is done in a private booth

Toshiba Matrixeye EX (Ultrasonic flaw detector)
Matrix-Arrey : 32

AMETEK CREAFORM Metra
SCAN750 Elite (3D scan)

Olympus Corp.
Inverted Microscopes

Oven
Size : W450xH450xD450mm / Temperature range : Environmental Temperature +20 - 650℃ / Temperature elevation capability : Environmental Temperature+50 - 650℃/120min less

Cutting Plotter Table working place : W1,500xL3,500mm

SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD
Cutting Plotter

KUKA
Robot

Krauss Maffei
Epoxy resin injection machine Resin 60L ／ Hardener 25L

Krauss Maffei
630t Press machine Height total 5,200mm ／ Length max 1,500mm ／ Width max 1,200mm ／ Whole cycle time per component part 240sec

DMG森精機 - NV5000B/40
X軸：1,020mm（ストローク）／ Y軸：510mm ／ Z軸：510mm ／テーブル作業面：1,320×600mm

Big sized clean room
JIS B 9920 cleanliness class maximum concentration (Pcs/m³） / Class 5 : 100,000m³ / Capacity : m² (16,000x16,000mm) 760m² (16,000x16,000x3,000mm) / Temperature and humidity condition : Temperature : 23℃±3℃, Humidity 65% less / Ambient conditions : Temperature 35℃ during summer, Humidity 70% less / Ambient conditions : Temperature 35℃ during summer, Humidity 70% less / Temperature -5℃ during winter, Humidity 40% less