Method for compression molding of anisotropic components

A method for producing a compression-molded component, comprising:

• defining a parameter space comprising a set of values of a parameter, wherein the parameter corresponds to a property of fiber bundles, and wherein the set of values represents all possible values of the parameter in the parameter space;
• narrowing the parameter space to obtain a narrowed parameter space, wherein the narrowed parameter space comprises a proper subset of the set of values of the parameter, and wherein the proper subset represents all possible values of the parameter in the narrowed parameter space;
• generating a statistical model based on a sampling of the narrowed parameter space;
• selecting from the proper subset, based on the statistical model, a value of the parameter;
• producing a bundle of fibers conforming to the selected value of the parameter;
• and
• manufacturing a component comprising the bundle of fibers using a compression-molding process.

A method for producing a compression-molded component, the method comprising:

• defining a parameter space comprising a set of values of a parameter, wherein the parameter corresponds to a property of fiber bundle placements in compression molding, and wherein the set of values represents all possible values of the parameter in the parameter space;
• narrowing the parameter space to obtain a narrowed parameter space, wherein the narrowed parameter space comprises a proper subset of the set of values of the parameter, and wherein the proper subset represents all possible values of the parameter in the narrowed parameter space;
• generating a statistical model based on a sampling of the narrowed parameter space;
• selecting from the proper subset, based on the statistical model, a value of the parameter;
• placing a bundle of fibers in a mold, the placement conforming to the selected value of the parameter;
• and
• manufacturing a component using the mold and a compression-molding process.

A method for producing a compression-molded component, the method comprising:

• defining a parameter space comprising a set of values of a parameter, wherein the parameter corresponds to a property of fiber bundle placements in compression molding, and wherein the set of values represents all possible values of the parameter in the parameter space;
• narrowing the parameter space to obtain a narrowed parameter space, wherein the narrowed parameter space comprises a proper subset of the set of values of the parameter, and wherein the proper subset represents all possible values of the parameter in the narrowed parameter space;
• generating a statistical model based on a sampling of the narrowed parameter space;
• selecting from the proper subset, based on the statistical model, a value of the parameter;
• placing a bundle of fibers in a fixture, the placement conforming to the selected value of the parameter;
• placing one or more additional fiber bundles in the fixture;
• forming, in the fixture, an assemblage of preforms from the bundle of fibers and the one or more additional fiber bundles, the forming comprising at least one of bonding or tacking;
• placing the fixture in a mold;
• and
• manufacturing a component using the mold and a compression-molding process.