Apparatus for curing a composite part layup

Apparatus for curing a composite thermoset resin part layup having a varying thickness, comprising:

• a tool having at least one tool face adapted to contact the part layup;
• a heating system for heating the tool face to a temperature sufficient to cure the part layup;
• a plurality of sensors for respectively sensing the temperature of the tool face within each of a plurality of sections of the tool face;
• a cooling system for cooling selected sections of the tool face;
• and,
• a controller for selecting the sections of the tool face to be cooled based on the sensed temperatures.

Apparatus for curing and consolidating a composite part layup that includes a thermosetting resin binder, comprising:

• a press;
• a set of matched tools mounted in the press, the tools including first and second smart susceptors each having a contoured tool face matching the part and a set of spaced apart laminations connected to the susceptors;
• a system for heating the susceptors, including induction coils passing transversely through the laminations for inductively heating the susceptors to the cure temperature of the layup;
• a source of coolant fluid;
• a fluid pump coupled with the source of coolant fluid;
• a plurality of nozzles located between the laminations and each adapted to direct coolant fluid onto the susceptors;
• a set valves for controlling the flow of the coolant fluid from the source to the nozzles;
• a set of tubes coupling the valves with the source and the nozzles;
• a plurality of sensors for sensing the temperature in each of a plurality of sections of each of the susceptors;
• and
• a programmed controller for selecting the sections of the susceptors to be cooled and for controlling the operation of the pump and the valves to direct the coolant fluid onto the susceptors within the sections selected to be cooled.