Composite and metal component production, forming and bonding system

A method of producing composite or bonded metal components including:

• locating a composite or bonded metal lay-up in a mould cavity of a mould assembly;
• locating the mould assembly together with the lay-up between first and second pressure chambers, each pressure chamber having an elastically deformable chamber wall, the chamber walls being located in opposing relation with the mould assembly located therebetween;
• and
• circulating a fluid at an elevated pressure and temperature though each pressure chamber such that the composite or bonded metal lay-up is compressed and cured or formed.

A system for producing composite or bonded metal components including:

• first and second pressure chambers, each pressure chamber having an elastically deformable chamber wall;
• at least one mould assembly including a mould section having opposing faces, one of said mould section faces providing a mould cavity within which a composite or bonded metal lay-up can be located, the at least one mould assembly further including a fluid flow chamber being provided adjacent an opposing said mould section face such that fluid circulated through the fluid flow chamber is in direct contact with at least a substantial portion of the opposing mould section face;
• and
• means for circulating fluid at an elevated temperature and pressure through each said pressure chamber and through the fluid flow chamber;
• wherein when the system is in use, the pressure chambers are held together with the elastically deformable chamber walls located in opposing relation, the at least one mould assembly containing the lay-up being accommodated between the chamber walls while fluid at elevated temperature and pressure is circulated through each pressure chamber and the fluid flow chamber of the at least one mould assembly such that the lay-up can be compressed and cured or formed.

A method of producing composite or bonded metal components including:

• locating a composite or bonded metal lay-up in a mould cavity of a mould assembly including a mould section, the mould section including a face opposing the mould cavity,
• with a fluid flow chamber being located adjacent said opposing mould section face;
• locating the mould section together with the lay-up between the first and second pressure chambers, each pressure chamber having an elastically deformable chamber wall, the chamber walls being located in opposing relations with the mould sections with said lay-up located therebetween, and
• circulating fluid at an elevated temperature and pressure through each pressure chamber and the fluid flow chamber such that the composite or bonded metal lay-up is compressed and cured or formed.

A system for producing a composite or bonded metal components including:

• first and second pressure chambers, each chamber having an elastically deformable chamber wall;
• means for circulating fluid at an elevated temperature and pressure through each said pressure chamber;
• and
• at least one mould assembly including a mould section providing a mould cavity within which a composite or bonded metal lay-up can be located,
• location means for locating the at least one mould assembly in a fixed position, the pressure chamber being supported about the at least one mould assembly in a floating relation relative thereto;
• wherein when the system is in use, the pressure chambers are held together with the elastically deformable walls located in opposing relation, the at least one mould assembly containing said lay-up being accommodated between the chamber walls while fluid at elevated temperature and pressure is circulated through each pressure chamber such that the lay-up can be compressed and cured or formed.

A method of producing composite or bonded metal components including:

• locating a composite or bonded metal lay-up in the mould cavity of a mould assembly;
• locating the mould assembly together with the composite or bonded metal lay-up between first and second pressure chambers at least substantially filled with fluid, each pressure chamber having an elastically deformable chamber wall, the chamber walls being located in opposing relation with the mould assembly located therebetween;
• supplying resin to the mould assembly and through the lay-up located therein;
• collecting the overflow of resin from the mould assembly for subsequent supply to another mould assembly;
• and
• circulating fluid at an elevated pressure and temperature through each pressure chamber such that the lay-up is compressed and cured or formed.

A method for producing composite or bonded metal components including:

• preparing and locating a composite or bonded metal lay-up in the mould cavity of a plurality of mould assemblies;
• locating one or more mould assemblies between two separated pressure chambers, each pressure chamber having an elastically deformable chamber wall, bringing the pressure chambers together in a production stage such that the or each mould assembly is located between the chamber walls of the pressure chambers;
• circulating fluid at elevated temperature and pressure through each pressure chamber during said production stage to thereby compress and cure or form the component;
• removing the or each mould assembly from between the pressure chambers;
• and
• replacing the or each-mould assembly with a further one or more mould assembly accommodating a lay-up for a following production stage.