System for stamping a thick thermoplastic composite blank

A stamping system comprising:

• a trimmed composite blank comprising continuous reinforcing fibers in a thermoplastic polymer matrix;
• a transfer frame configured to hold the composite blank along at least two edgings, the transfer frame comprising an open area between these edgings;
• a stamping device comprising a stamping die and a punch movable with respect to the stamping die between a open position and a closed position, the closed position defining an air gap between walls of the stamping die and walls of the punch;
• means for moving the transfer frame above the stamping die to a first position above a resting surface of the stamping die and a second position below the resting surface in which the composite blank rests on the resting surface of the stamping die;
• wherein:
• the composite blank comprises on one of the at the least two edgings, at least two positioning bore holes configured to cooperate with two centering pins carried by the transfer frame (200);
• the blank comprises two oblong slots configured to cooperate with at least two guiding pins carried by the stamping die;
• the transfer frame comprises a comb-shaped support member comprising a plurality of teeth configured to support the blank on a holding surface extending along another of the at least two edgings of the composite blank and further comprising holding pegs protruding from ends of the teeth of the comb-shaped support member the holding pegs being perpendicular to the holding surface;
• the blank comprises holding slots configured to cooperate with the holding pegs of the comb-shaped support member;
• a perimeter of the stamping die in a plane parallel to the resting surface (is insertable in the open area of the transfer frame;
• and
• the transfer frame comprises hinged thermal protection flaps configured to cover a part of the composite blank and the centering pins around the positioning bore holes when the blank is laid on the transfer frame.