What is the Helman Fiber Tensioner
 

WHAT IS IT?  

It is a state-of-the-art bi-directional device used to maintain a constant amount of tension (or force) on a fiber, filament or wire while it is being unwound off of supply spools when the fiber is going into a process.
BI-DIRECTIONAL:  The ability to reverse direction to take slack out of the fiber and at the same time maintain exact tension control during the re-wind.
TRUE TENSION CONTROL:   The remote tension sensing is a dedicated (in-line) fiber tensioner meter for each fiber (tow) used to read the tension and to control the tension.
INSTANT ON-THE-FLY TENSION CHANGES:  It can change tension on-the-fly and provides instantaneous response to tension changes.
TOTAL TENSION COMPENSATION:  It compensates for spool size, weight, inertia, friction and speed changes (acceleration/deceleration).
NO CLUTCHES OR BRAKES TO WEAR OUT:  It is maintenance free and extremely reliable 
(15 years+ for brush or bearing changes).

HOW IS IT BUILT?  

It is custom built to your exact requirements.

It is built from a list of options.

It has no idler arms, clutches or brakes to wear out.

Electronics are housed in an dust proof electronic cabinet.

Bi-Directional Servo motor tensioners are mounted on a creel.

Remote tension (meter) sensors are mounted in the fiber path.

It can be built with remote control inputs and outputs for both control, tension history and fault (broken fiber) history of each fiber.

WHY WAS IT BUILT?  

Because no other fiber tensioner on the market could do the job for the aerospace industry.

It was designed to handle fragile graphite fibers at high speeds while maintaining exact and very uniform tension.

Now it is able to handle any type of fiber.

In composite winding, exact tension of each fiber is critical in order to achieve a finished product which has a high quality and good strength-to-weight ratio.   

WHAT ARE THE RESULTS?  

Many of our customers are manufacturing products which their competitors are unable. 
(The tensioner information is kept confidential.)

The results are new standards of speed and accuracy and a maintenance free live expectancy in excess of fifteen years.

A tensioner which will now work for all types of delicate fibers including 1/2 mil wire.

It is able to tension from as low as 0.001 pound (1/2 gram) at 1000 feet per minute to as high as 30 pounds or more.  

You will:
1) Decrease production cost
2) Decrease product losses
3) Increase production speed
4) Increase product quality
5) Greatly reduce down time!