Method of making a cure tool with integrated edge breather

A method of removing air and volatiles from a composite layup during curing, comprising;

• placing the layup on a cure tool having channels;
• using a vacuum bag in the layup;
• and
• using the channels in the cure tool to draw air and volatiles from edges of the layup, said channels extending transverse to and through one another, said channels in the cure tool only between outer edges of the layup and a sealed area, said sealed area comprising a seal between the vacuum bag and the cure tool in order to provide substantially continuous and constant breathing volume during a cure cycle.

A method of making a cure tool having an integrated breather for curing a composite part layup, comprising:

• fabricating a tool body having a surface for supporting a layup thereon, wherein the layup comprises outer edges;
• and
• forming a breather in the tool body for allowing air to be drawn from the layup during curing, forming the breather including
• forming a first set of substantially parallel channels in the surface of the tool body;
• connecting the first set of channels with each other by forming a second set of channels in the tool body extending transverse and through to the first set of channels, said first set of channels formed only in the surface of the tool body surrounding the outer edges of said layup, in order to provide substantially continuous and constant breathing volume during a cure cycle;
• and
• forming at least one air passageway in the tool body for connecting the first and second sets of channels with a vacuum source.