Automated fiber placement using multiple placement heads, replaceable creels, and replaceable placement heads
AssigneeIngersoll Machine Tools, Inc.
InventorsTino Oldani, Daniel Jarvi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for forming a composite part on a tool surface, during an automated fiber placement process, by depositing the composite material onto the tool surface with two or more fiber placement heads which are capable of simultaneous movement independently from each other and the tool surface, but dynamically synchronized for operation with respect to a common time base. Fiber placement heads, and creels for holding composite materials supplied to the fiber placement heads are replaceable during fabrication of the composite part.
Claims22
A method for forming a composite part on a tool surface, the method comprising placing composite material onto the tool surface with two or more fiber placement heads that are:
- simultaneously movable independently from one another and the tool surface but dynamically synchronized for operation with respect to a common time base in a manner that precludes collision of the fiber placement heads;
- and
- simultaneously independently moveable into and through the same physical space, in such a manner that they would collide with one another were they not dynamically synchronized to the common time base and operated in a manner that precludes collision of the fiber placement heads.
An apparatus for forming a composite part on a tool surface, the apparatus comprising:
- two or more fiber placement heads being simultaneously movable independently from one another and the tool surface but dynamically synchronized for operation with respect to a common time base, for placing composite material onto the tool surface in a manner that precludes collision of the fiber placement heads;
- the two fiber placement heads being further simultaneously independently moveable into and through the same physical space, in such a manner that they would collide with one another were they not dynamically synchronized to the common time base and operated in a manner that precludes collision of the fiber placement heads.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.