The present invention relates to a braiding machine and a method for controlling a braiding machine of this kind. An exemplary embodiment of the braiding machine has a plurality of braided-material carriers, a drive and a control device. The plurality of braided-material carriers are arranged around a common braiding centre of the braiding machine and are each designed to carry a braided material that is to be braided in the common braiding centre. The drive is designed to drive the plurality of braided-material carriers such that they move around the common braiding centre. The control device is designed to control the drive such that a centrifugal force acting on at least one of the braided-material carriers remains nearly constant.

A bobbin head assembly for a maypole type circular braiding machine contains a spindle unit, a braiding material spool with braiding material and a bobbin head. The bobbin head contains a compensation plate and a torsion spring extending helically around the extended axis of the spindle unit. The torsion spring has a nose bent radially inwards towards the center at each of the two ends of the torsion spring coils. A spring seat is attached on the compensation plate, for receiving the torsion spring with a spring abutment element for fixing the nose of one spring end in a circumferential direction of the torsion spring. A fixing collar adjustably fixes the nose of the other spring end in the opposite circumferential direction at different positions along the circumferential direction. The position of the fixing collar can be secured in the circumferential direction with respect to the bobbin head.

A bobbin head assembly for a maypole type circular braiding machine contains a spindle unit, a braiding material spool with braiding material and a bobbin head. The bobbin head contains a compensation plate and a torsion spring extending helically around the extended axis of the spindle unit. The torsion spring has a nose bent radially inwards towards the center at each of the two ends of the torsion spring coils. A spring seat is attached on the compensation plate, for receiving the torsion spring with a spring abutment element for fixing the nose of one spring end in a circumferential direction of the torsion spring. A fixing collar adjustably fixes the nose of the other spring end in the opposite circumferential direction at different positions along the circumferential direction. The position of the fixing collar can be secured in the circumferential direction with respect to the bobbin head.

A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.

A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.

A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.

A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.

A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.

A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.

Systems and methods are provided for braiding Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) tape. One method includes drawing multiple lanes of MMC tape, comprising a matrix of metal reinforced by fibers, from bobbins arranged around a mandrel. The method also includes braiding the multiple lanes to form a preform at the mandrel for an MMC part and consolidating the preform via application of heat and pressure.