Solar Array Substrates Vanguard has fabricated multiple Solar Array Substrate configurations ranging from simple graphite face sheet / aluminum core designs to complex multiple face sheet materials with internal features requiring complex tooling and specialized processing.
Our fabrication capabilities include:
- Large face sheet lamination with co-cure to .002" thick FPC200 Kapton (polyimide) film or .001" thick 100XC10E7 "Black" Kapton film.
- Co-cure of Kapton sections to face sheet where Kapton placement is required to effect "islands" on the composite face sheet.
- Precision placement of metal and compression molded internal features and fittings, co-cured in place during Substrate consolidation.
- Panel in panel Doublers co-cured in place during Substrate consolidation.
- Substrate machining to standard 3-place dimensional tolerancing.
- Secondary insert bonding including precision location of Hinge Fittings, Tiedowns, Shear Ties, Ground Inserts, Handling and Lifting Inserts, and Cable Tie Inserts.
- Secondary Bonding techniques include complex electrically conductive bonding with multiple two-part adhesive types and critical clocking of fittings
- Large Substrate Thermal Cycling capabilities to cryogenic temperatures (-190ƒC) with elevated temperature capabilities to +145ƒC.
- Large Substrate Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) capabilities including through transmission Air Scan and Pulse Echo.
- Static Load Testing with deflection measurements during testing using either LVDT's or ADM Laser Trackers.
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