System and Method for the Rapid, Automated Creation of Advanced Composite Tailored Blanks

An apparatus for manufacturing composite preforms from composite tape comprising:

• a tooling surface;
• a tape section guide that receives a section of the composite tape cut and separated from a composite tape supply,
• wherein the tape section guide holds the composite tape section across the tooling surface, and
• wherein at least one of the tape section guide and the tooling surface moves to position the composite tape section at a desired location and angle relative to the tooling surface, and near a pre-existing composite tape section disposed on the tooling surface;
• a tape tacking device,
• wherein, with the composite tape section near the pre-existing composite tape section, the tape tacking device presses a portion of the composite tape section and tacks the portion of the composite tape section to the pre-existing composite tape section.

An apparatus for manufacturing composite preforms from composite tape comprising:

• a tape section guide that receives a section of the composite tape cut and separated from a composite tape supply;
• a tooling surface;
• and
• a tape tacking device,
• wherein the tape section guide holds the composite tape section across the tooling surface,
• wherein at least one of the tape section guide and the tooling surface moves to position the composite tape section at a desired location and angle relative to the tooling surface and near a pre-existing composite tape section disposed on the tooling surface,
• wherein the tape section guide defines an opening through which a portion of the composite tape section can pass in a direction toward the pre-existing composite tape section, and
• wherein, with the composite tape section near the pre-existing composite tape section, the tape tacking device presses the portion of the composite tape section through the opening and tacks the portion of the composite tape section to the pre-existing composite tape section.