Method and apparatus for compression molding

A computer-implemented method for forming a fiber-reinforced composite device comprising one or more fiber-comprising tows having a tow width, the method comprising the steps:

• forming a first preform model comprising one or more anisotropic tow layup portions including one or more fiber-comprising tows, and one or more isotropic material paths in the prolongation of one or more of the fiber-comprising tows;
• receiving one or more mold geometrical components;
• receiving one or more molding force vector parameters;
• forming an intermediate device model by deforming the first preform model against the one or more mold geometrical components using the one or more molding force vector parameters;
• and
• forming a second preform model by adjusting the first preform model by forming a tow layup adjustment vector comprising one or more vectors (V1 . . . N) extending from one or more tows of the first preform model to one or more tows of the second preform model as a function of one or more position transformation vectors (U1 . . . N) extending from one or more tows of the first preform model to one or more tows the intermediate device model, the adjusting including arranging, along a longitudinal axis of the tow, gaps separating one or more tows by cutting one or more of the tows into a first tow and a second tow, adjusting the length of one or more of the first tows and the second tows, forming a gap along the longitudinal axis, and arranging one or more reservoirs and void regions, the forming including manufacturing a physical embodiment of the second preform model by:
• transmitting the second preform model to one or more systems to form for applying an elongate fiber tow onto an object surface;
• depositing the one or more fiber-comprising tows with the one or more systems for applying an elongate fiber tow;
• and
• forming the one or more reservoirs comprising the isotropic material.