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US 8,316,687 B2Granted
Method for making a tool used to manufacture composite parts
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorKevin T. Slattery
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is provided for making a composite part layup tool. A surface of a base is shaped and used as a tool to incrementally form a metal sheet. The formed metal sheet is friction plug welded to the shaped surface on the base to form a metal tool surface of the layup tool.
Claims18
A method of making a tool used in forming a part, comprising:
- shaping a surface on a base to generally match the shape of the part;
- forming a tool surface by incrementally forming the metal sheet onto the shaped surface on the base to create a formed metal sheet;
- removing the formed metal sheet from the shaped surface of the base;
- reshaping the surface of the base to a set of final dimensions after the tool surface has been formed;
- and,
- attaching the formed metal sheet to the base.
3 more elements
A method of making a tool used in forming a part, comprising:
- machining a shape into a surface of a base that generally matches the shape into which the part is to be formed;
- placing a metal sheet over the shaped surface on the base;
- forming the metal sheet over the shaped surface on the base to create a formed metal sheet;
- removing the formed metal sheet from the shaped surface on the base;
- machining the shaped surface on the base to final dimensions;
- placing the formed metal sheet on the base covering the shaped surface on the base;
- and,
- attaching the formed metal sheet to the base.
5 more elements
A method of making a composite part layup tool, comprising:
- clamping a base in a machine tool;
- using the machine tool to machine a shape into a surface of a base that approximately matches the shape of a part to be formed by the tool;
- placing a metal sheet on the base overlying the shaped surface;
- clamping the metal sheet on the base against movement within a plane;
- incrementally displacing portions of the metal sheet in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane and down onto the shaped surface to create a formed metal sheet;
- removing the formed metal sheet from the shaped surface on the base;
- machining the shaped surface to a set of final dimensions;
- placing the formed metal sheet on the shaped surface;
- inverting the base while maintaining the metal sheet in indexed relationship to the shaped surface on the base;
- and,
- friction plug welding the formed metal sheet to the shaped surface of the base from the side of the base opposite the shape surface on the base.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.