Filament Winding Machines

Filament winding is a process of winding composite fibers and resin around a shape(mandrel) for the manufacture of composite structures such as pressure vessels, pipe lines, Type 3 and 4 gas cylinders (CNG, LPG, hydrogen), rocket motor casings, and helicopter blades. Mikrosam's filament winding machines wind continuous fibers, either previously impregnated with a matrix material or impregnated during winding, onto a rotating mandrel in a precise, predetermined pattern.  By choosing Mikrosam, you will be partnering with the premier manufacturer of filament winders in the world.  They have over 35 years of experience in the development of these types of machines and have innovative features such as automatic cut and add of fibers, full automated material handling, tensioned creel systems and many other features that ensure maximum uptime, productivity and first pass quality.  Their systems include their own part design and winding programming software compatible with any CAD system.  The machines also come with a full manufacturing process historian.  These and many other features are unique to Mikrosam.  Call us today to find out how we can increase your manufacturing profitability!

Why our customers choose Mikrosam for Filament Winding

 

 

• Innovative features, leading components, and robust design for long operation
• A worldwide leader in automated lines for pressure vessels (LPG/CNG/CHG)
• Proven automotive experience in serial production with Tier 1 clients
• Full range of up to 6-axis machines
• High-quality and low cycle-time towpreg winding
• Software for non-axis symmetrical shape winding
• Dual-drive carriage for precise control in Multi-Spindle configurations

Cell Configurations

• Overhead Portal for Multi-spindle – standard filament winders with up to 6 axes, or multiple spindle configuration for fast, industry-leading capabilities
• Floor-bed and Movable Carriage – large mandrel, heavy-duty applications, up to 6 axis
• Robotic – for R&D and complex shape prototyping
• Hybrid – FW and AFP Special solutions for space and R&D applications

 

Multi-Spindle Units for High-Capacity Solutions

 

 

Key Features:

• Advanced solutions for LPG, CNG, hydrogen tanks, and other composite pressure vessels
• Large capacity production output
• Simultaneously winding up to 5 spindles
• Tailor-made configuration
• Wet and Dry (towpreg) Winding
• Stable and precise geometry

Technical Characteristics:

• Heavy duty design
• Diameter range: 50mm up to 800mm
• Length range: 600mm up to 3m
• Max.mandrel weight: 500kg
• Individual Fiber Tension Range: 5-80 N
• 0-90º winding angle capability
• QCS-Quality Control System

Floor-bed and Heavy-duty units for Large Mandrels

Key features:

• Robust steel construction
• Carriage bed length according to customer’s requirements
• Possibility for carriage-mounted fiber creel
• Single or dual-spindle configuration with large diameter capabilities
• First automated single-cell with AFP and FW for large complex composite parts
• Wet and Dry (towpreg) Winding
• High performance for large composite parts

Technical characteristics:

• Diameter range: 50mm up to 4m
• Length range: 1m up to 30m
• Max. mandrel weight: up to 80t
• Tape tension range: 500-4,000N
• 0º-90º winding angle capability
• Up to 6-axis configuration
• Individual fiber tension: 5-80N
• Safety integration in all modes of operation
• Additional functions: Prepreg or other tape winding

 

Small-scale budget-friendly R&D units

Technical characteristics:

• Diameter range: 50mm up to 2m
• Length range: 300mm to 3m
• Max.mandrel weight: 500kg
• Individual Fiber Tension Range: 5-80N
• 0º-90º winding angle capability
• Up to 6 axes interpolated winding
• Modern CNC computer control system
• Integrated PC-based Winding Commander and Winding Expert
• Safety integrations in all modes of operation

Composite Automation Handling Systems

 

Automatic Handling Units perform all handling operations:

✔️ Loading and unloading liners/vessels between liner stations or buffer stations

 ✔️ Filament winding machine

✔️ Continuous curing oven

✔️ Variety of auxiliary and supporting equipment option

Robotic System

 

• Robot Kuka, Abb, Fanuc, or similar
  
• Robot linear carriage
• Handling frame with sensors for liners and products
• Exchangeable Handling Frame (tool changer) adapters for variety of Type 3 or Type 4 products

Area Gantry System

 

• Modular and precise multi-axis gantry system with a high level of flexibility
• Perfect for heavy loads, long travel distances, or small workspaces
• A variety of sizes means loads up to 3000 kg are covered
• Portal Longitudinal Linear motion axis – X axis (X1 and X2 axis)
• Transverse (carriage) Linear motion axis – Y axis (Y1 and Y2 axis)
• Vertical Linear motion axis – Z (Z1 and Z2 axis)
• Vertical maximum axis stroke up to 2m

Filament Winding Machine Configurations

• Overhead-portal multi-spindle — up to 6 axes, multiple spindles winding in parallel for industry-leading throughput
• Floor-bed and movable-carriage — heavy-duty machines for large, long, or heavy mandrels, up to 6 axes
• Robotic single-spindle cells — flexible wet winding and towpreg winding in one compact footprint
• High-speed towpreg winders — purpose-built for composite pressure vessel production

Automated Filament Winding Lines for Pressure Vessels

For Type 4 (polymer-lined) and Type 5 (linerless) composite pressure vessels — hydrogen, CNG, and LPG — Mikrosam delivers complete automated lines: automatic liner and mandrel loading, winding, parallel curing, unloading, and testing, integrated under one control system with a full process historian. A single high-capacity automated line frequently replaces two or more manually operated winders. Explore the complete composite pressure vessel production plant, tensioned creel systems, and the vessel design software that programs it all.

Aerospace & Space Applications

Beyond pressure vessels, filament winding produces rocket motor casings, launch-vehicle structures, drive shafts, and high-performance composite tubes and cylinders. Machine configurations, fiber tensioning, and winding software are tailored to aerospace qualification and traceability requirements.

Composite Automation is Mikrosam's North American representative — sales, applications engineering, service, and spares. Learn more about Mikrosam, put their R&D institute to work on your process, or contact us to discuss your filament winding application.

Planning a Type 4 or Type 5 vessel program? Book a 15-minute capability call — or ask about winding trials on the Mikrosam towpreg winder at NIAR. Contact us.