Methods and devices for supporting of variety of different pre-cured composite stringers

A method of fabricating a composite stringer, the method comprising:

• forming a pre-cured composite stringer on a forming device, the pre-cured composite stringer comprising a hat portion;
• transferring the pre-cured composite stringer from the forming device to a post-forming processing device, comprising:
• a base, comprising a channel, and
• a support structure, at least partially extending within the channel and along a length of the channel and conforming to the hat portion and retaining a cross-sectional shape of the hat portion;
• and
• installing a bladder on the pre-cured composite stringer, while the pre-cured composite stringer is positioned on the post-forming processing device;
• installing a noodle at an interface between the bladder and the pre-cured composite stringer and within a plane of a support surface of the base, while the pre-cured composite stringer is positioned on the post-forming processing device;
• transferring the pre-cured composite stringer together with the bladder and the noodle from the post-forming processing device to a curing device;
• and
• curing the pre-cured composite stringer on the curing device, thereby forming the composite stringer.

A method comprising:

• transferring a pre-cured composite stringer, comprising a hat portion, to a post-forming processing device, comprising:
• a base, comprising a channel, and
• a support structure, at least partially extending within the channel and along a length of the channel and conforming to the hat portion of the pre-cured composite stringer and retaining a cross-sectional shape of the hat portion of the pre-cured composite stringer;
• and
• removing the pre-cured composite stringer from the post-forming processing device;
• and
• transferring an additional pre-cured composite stringer, comprising an additional hat portion, to the post-forming processing device, wherein:
• the support structure of the post-forming processing device conforms to the additional hat portion of the additional pre-cured composite stringer and retains a cross-sectional shape of the additional hat portion of the additional pre-cured composite stringer, different from the cross-sectional shape of the hat portion of the pre-cured composite stringer.