Composite product manufacturing system and method
OwnerBijoysri Khaninventor
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Abstract
A method of manufacture of a composite material is provided. The method includes providing a deformable body having substrate and matrix materials on a surface of a first tool. The substrate material is loosely bound by the matrix material and may include a composite pre-form. The relative movement between the first tool and a second tool is controlled so as to apply pressure to the body between opposing surfaces of the first and second tools and thereby debulk and/or consolidate said body. The first or second tool includes a plurality of individually controllable tool elements, the temperature and/or displacement of said elements being controlled to generate a desired profile in said body. An adaptive debulking system and tool are also disclosed.
Claims38
A method of manufacture of a composite material comprising:
- providing a deformable body having substrate and matrix materials on a surface of a first tool, the matrix material being dispersed throughout the substrate,
- controlling relative movement between the first tool and a second tool to apply pressure to the body between opposing surfaces of the first and second tools and thereby debulk said body,
- wherein at least one of the first or second tool comprises a plurality of individually controllable tool elements and wherein the temperature and/or displacement of said elements are controlled during debulking to generate a desired profile in said body.
A composite material manufacturing system comprising:
- a first tool having a first outer surface on which a deformable body having substrate and matrix materials can be deposited;
- a second tool having a second outer surface arranged to oppose the first outer surface, an actuator for moving the first and or second tools so as to apply a compacting pressure to the impregnated substrate material therebetween;
- wherein at least one of the first or second tool comprises a plurality of individually controllable tool elements;
- and
- a controller arranged to control the temperature and/or displacement of said elements during debulking so as to generate a desired profile in said impregnated substrate material.
A composite material manufacturing tool having:
- an outer surface arranged to contact a deformable body comprising substrate and matrix materials in use;
- an actuator for pressing said surface against said material, wherein the tool comprises a plurality of individually controllable tool elements;
- and
- a controller arranged to control the temperature and/or displacement of said elements so as to generate a desired profile in said impregnated substrate material.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.