System and method for manufacturing panels for use in wind turbine rotor blade components

A system for manufacturing a panel, the system comprising:

• a support frame;
• a first caul plate arranged atop the support frame;
• a second caul plate arranged atop the first caul plate;
• a heating assembly comprising a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, the housing comprising one or more heaters, the one or more heaters configured to generate heat, the housing configured to generate a first pressurized gas film;
• wherein one or more layers of material to be consolidated is placed between the first and second caul plates and drawn through the heating assembly as the heating assembly applies pressure to the one or more layers of material to be consolidated via the first pressurized gas film in combination with applying heat via the one or more heaters, thereby consolidating the panel;
• and
• wherein the first and second caul plates are hinged on one side thereof to facilitate removal of the panel or reinserting one or more additional layers of material.