Method and apparatus for producing a laminate from one or more layers of material

A method for producing a laminate, the method comprising:

• winding a section of each of one or more layers of material around a mandrel and about a longitudinal axis of the mandrel, wherein:
• each layer of material includes fibers;
• and
• the winding is performed such that, for the wound section of each layer of material, each of a majority of the fibers is angularly disposed relative to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel;
• and
• disposing a tape over the layer(s) of material such that:
• at least a portion of the tape overlies at least a portion of the wound section of each layer of material;
• and
• a long dimension of the portion of the tape is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel.

A system for producing a laminate, the system comprising:

• a mandrel having a longitudinal axis;
• one or more pulleys, each configured to:
• receive a respective one of one or more layers of material;
• and
• rotate relative to the mandrel and about the longitudinal axis of the mandrel to wind a section of the respective layer of material around the mandrel;
• and
• a tape dispenser configured to dispose a tape over the layer(s) of material such that:
• at least a portion of the tape overlies at least a portion of the wound section of each layer of material;
• and
• a long dimension of the portion of the tape is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel.