Cure tool with integrated edge breather and method of making the same

A method of removing air and volatiles from a composite layup during curing, comprising:

• placing the layup on a cure tool;
• vacuum bagging the layup;
• and
• using channels in the cure tool to draw air and volatiles from edges of the layup.

A method of making a cure tool having an integrated breather for curing a composite part layup, comprising:

• fabricating a tool body having a surface for supporting a layup thereon;
• and
• forming a breather in the tool body for allowing air to be drawn from the layup during curing, forming the breather including—
• forming a first set of substantially parallel channels in the surface of the tool body,
• connecting the first set of channels with each other by forming a second set of channels in the tool body extending transverse to the first set of channels, and
• forming at least one air passageway in the tool body for connecting the first and second sets of channels with a vacuum source.

A cure tool having an integrated breather for curing a composite part layup, comprising:

• a tool body having an upper surface adapted to support a composite layup thereon and having a lower surface;
• and
• a breather integrally formed within the tool body, the breather including—
• a first set of generally parallel, laterally spaced apart channels in the upper surface of the tool body extending substantially around a layup placed on the upper surface,
• a second set of spaced apart channels in the upper surface extending traverse to and interconnecting the channels in the first set, and
• at least one internal air passageway in the tool body having an inlet coupled with the channels at the intersection of the first and second sets of channels and having an outlet adapted to be coupled with a vacuum source for drawing air from edges of the layup curing.