The primary use of the machine is to perform all of the manufacturing tasks to wind very large cylinders of fiber-glass material such as storage tanks for acids & caustics & stack-liners for power generating facilities. This particular machine design operates in large dimensions (cylinders up to 68ft dia. By multiples of 20ft heights) & yet can lay down helical winding patterns accurately enough to provide a required "closed" pattern of fibres. The machine also has the ability to lay patterns that allow the attachment of "reinforcing ribs" to the formed part.

The machine uses one or more (depending on cylinder size) hydraulic motors to drive the mandrel under manual control. There are 2 servo driven "hoists" on a common tower which can be operated "slaved" to the mandrel motion via a tracking encoder or independently. Likewise, the 2 hoists can operate independently from each other or "locked together" (at any relative height to each other). The system was provided with several operator stations for control from either hoist platform or the ground & both a hand-held terminal for local part-programming as well as an independent computer with custom software for ease of creating automatic winding-control sequences. Programs are loaded, when needed via a serial connection between the computer & the controller.

The machine was constructed by our customer using custom design as is appropriate for major equipment, such as this winder (8 units were eventually constructed). Standard, heavy-duty chains, sprockets & structural fabricated metal parts were used for all of the basic machine construction as well as standard hydraulic devices for the mandrel drive & power supply. Heavy-duty gear boxes with integrated brushless servo motors were used for the hoists. The system was designed for ease of set-up, take-down & maintenance with most of the control & drive electronic equipment located remote from the machine & connected via plug-in cables.

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