From the beginning until now: “The Development of Graphite Composite Fabrication Technology”

 

Speaker: Dr. James C. Leslie CEO of ACPT Inc in Huntington Beach 

Abstract

This presentation starts at the beginning of the use of composites in high performance structures and hardware and chronologically demonstrates the development of the technology utilized in fabricating useful composite items. The first parts to fly on an airplane and into space will be illustrated as well as the basis of design and the application principals, providing an understanding of why composites are used and the specifics of the benefits gained through their use. Applications such as sporting goods, aircraft and satellite components, automotive drive shafts, and drill pipe for the oil and gas industry will be discussed. 

Background

Dr. Leslie is the Founder and CEO of ACPT which is internationally recognized for its excellence in developing and manufacturing advanced composite structures and hardware.  ACPT has pioneered in the transfer of aerospace design and manufacturing technology to commercial applications and has successfully developed and is currently producing composite drive shafts for automotive, marine, military, aircraft and industrial use. ACPT is also producing composite drill pipe for “short radius” drilling operations.  

He received his BS from Penn State and MS and PhD from Ohio State, all in Chemical Engineering. Prior to joining ACPT Dr Leslie was with Hercules Inc where he directed fabrication of the first structural graphite composites to fly on an aircraft and to be utilized on a satellite (a wing tip for the Northrop F-5, a Spoiler for the Boeing 737, and the Truss structure of the ATS Satellite).  He was also instrumental in the application of graphite in sporting goods (golf shaft and tennis racket). He has numerous publications and presentations, has been active in both SAMPE and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), where he has served 2 terms on both the Board of Directors of SME and as an advisor to the Composites Manufacturing Association of SME.  He has been honored by SME as a Fellow Member and the Jud Hall Award that is awarded annually in recognition of outstanding achievement in the field of manufacturing with composite materials.