# US 10,308,002 B2 · Bondline control adhesive spacer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,002 B2 - Document ID: US10308002B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/603,200 - Filed: 2017-05-23 - Published: 2018-11-29 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-23 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Thompson Nguyen; Michael W. Evens; Michael S. Goodrich; Lindsay R. Calhoun; Richard A. Binder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308002B2 ## CPC - B32B 37/12: characterised by using adhesives - B32B 3/12: characterised by a layer of regularly- arranged cells, e.g. a honeycomb structure - B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)} - B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties - B32B 7/14: applied in spaced arrangements, e.g. in stripes - B32B 37/1018: {using only vacuum} - B32B 38/0004: {Cutting, tearing or severing, e.g. bursting; Cutter details (cutting in general B26D; laminating combined with punching or perforating B32B38/04; removing all or part of the layers B32B38/10; cutting in combination with laying up and registration B32B38/185 takes precedence)} - B32B 2250/20: All layers being fibrous or filamentary - B32B 2260/023: Two or more layers - B32B 2260/046: Synthetic resin - B32B 2262/0269: Aromatic polyamide fibres - B32B 2262/101: Glass fibres - B32B 2262/106: Carbon fibres, e.g. graphite fibres - B32B 2305/72: Cured, e.g. vulcanised, cross-linked - B32B 2307/748: Releasability - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM ## Abstract Disclosed herein is a method of bonding a first part to a second part to form an assembly. The method includes positioning a plurality of adhesive spacers between the first part and the second part. Each adhesive spacer is made of a first curable adhesive in a cured state. The method further includes positioning at least one adhesive layer between the plurality of adhesive spacers and the first part and between the plurality of adhesive spacers and the second part. Each adhesive layer is made of the same first curable adhesive as the plurality of adhesive spacers, but in a non-cured state. The method further includes with the plurality of adhesive spacers between the first part, the second part, and the adhesive layers, curing the first part, the second part, and the adhesive layers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of bonding a first part to a second part to form an assembly, comprising: positioning a plurality of adhesive spacers between the first part and the second part, wherein each adhesive spacer is made of a first curable adhesive in a cured state; positioning at least one adhesive layer between the plurality of adhesive spacers and the first part and between the plurality of adhesive spacers and the second part, wherein each adhesive layer is made of the same first curable adhesive as the plurality of adhesive spacers, but in a non-cured state; and with the plurality of adhesive spacers between the first part, the second part, and the adhesive layers, curing the first part, the second part, and the adhesive layers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising vacuum compacting the first part, the second part, the plurality of adhesive spacers, and the adhesive layers prior to curing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising producing the plurality of adhesive spacers by vacuum compacting at least one spacer adhesive sheet comprising the first curable adhesive in a non-cured state to produce a compressed adhesive stack. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, further comprising curing the compressed adhesive stack to produce a cured adhesive stack. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, further comprising cutting the plurality of adhesive spacers, in a desired shape, out of the cured adhesive stack. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, further comprising mechanically reducing a thickness of the plurality of adhesive spacers to a desired thickness. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a shape, size, pattern, or spacing of the plurality of adhesive spacers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein determining the shape, size, pattern, or spacing of the plurality of adhesive spacers is based upon the flexibility of the first part or the second part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein determining the shape, size, pattern, or spacing of the plurality of adhesive spacers is based upon a pressure to be applied to the assembly while curing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein determining the shape, size, pattern, or spacing of the plurality of adhesive spacers is based upon a maximum and a minimum acceptable space between the first part and the second part after the curing of the assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layers comprise an adhesive paste. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a thickness of a bond to be established between the first part and the second part. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, further comprising determining a quantity of the at least one spacer adhesive sheet by dividing a determined thickness of a bond to be established between the first part and the second part by a thickness of one spacer adhesive sheet and adding one if a quotient is not substantially equal to a whole number. ### Claim 14 A method of bonding a first part to a second part, comprising: curing a compressed adhesive stack comprising a first curable adhesive to produce a cured adhesive stack; cutting a plurality of adhesive spacers from the cured adhesive stack to a desired shape and thickness; positioning the plurality of adhesive spacers between at least two adhesive sheets; vacuum compacting the plurality of adhesive spacers and the adhesive sheets to produce a compressed film adhesive, wherein each adhesive sheet is made of the same first curable adhesive as the plurality of adhesive spacers, but in a non-cured state; positioning the compressed film adhesive between the first part and the second part; and with the compressed film adhesive between the first part and the second part, curing the first part, the second part, and the compressed film adhesive. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising compacting under vacuum or positive pressure the first part, the second part, and the compressed film adhesive prior to curing the first part, the second part, and the compressed film adhesive.