Method and apparatus for fabrication of composite tooling
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorMichael J. Fleming
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for forming a tool. A film is applied to a reference part. A vacuum is applied to cause the film to conform to a surface of the reference part such that an adhesive side of the film faces outward from the reference part and a release side of the film conforms to and contacts the reference part. A plurality of composite plates is adhered to the adhesive side of the film over a plurality of flat portions of the reference part. An adhesive material is applied to fill in a plurality of gaps between the plurality of composite plates. The adhesive material is cured to form the tool.
Claims22
A method of forming a tool, the method comprising:
- applying a film to a reference part;
- applying a vacuum to cause the film to conform to a surface of the reference part such that an adhesive side of the film faces outward from the reference part and a release side of the film conforms to and contacts the reference part;
- after applying the vacuum and before removing the vacuum, positioning a plurality of composite plates over a plurality of flat portions of the reference part and adhering the plurality of composite plates to the adhesive side of the film over the plurality of flat portions of the reference part;
- applying an adhesive material to fill in a plurality of gaps between the plurality of composite plates;
- curing the adhesive material to form the tool;
- and
- removing the vacuum.
A method of forming a tool, the method comprising:
- applying a film to a reference part;
- applying a vacuum to cause the film to conform to a surface of the reference part such that an adhesive side of the film faces outward from the reference part and a release side of the film conforms to and contacts the reference part;
- adhering a plurality of composite plates to the adhesive side of the film over a plurality of flat portions of the reference part;
- applying an adhesive material to fill in a plurality of gaps between the plurality of composite plates;
- and
- curing the adhesive material to form the tool;
- wherein the method further comprises, before applying the vacuum, sealing the film around the reference part to allow the vacuum to be drawn between the film and the reference part.
A method for fabricating an outer mold line caul, the method comprising:
- applying a film over a reference part;
- applying a vacuum to cause the film to conform to a surface of the reference part such that an adhesive side of the film faces outward from the reference part and a release side of the film conforms to and contacts the reference part;
- after applying the vacuum and before removing the vacuum, positioning a plurality of composite plates over a plurality of flat portions of the reference part and adhering the plurality of composite plates to the adhesive side of the film over the plurality of flat portions of the reference part;
- applying an adhesive material to fill in a plurality of gaps between the plurality of composite plates;
- curing the adhesive material to form the outer mold line caul;
- and
- removing the vacuum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.