Method and apparatus for layup tooling
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMatthew S. Stauffer, Douglas R. Ludin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One example of the present disclosure relates to a tool for laying up composite material to form a workpiece having a target contour. The tool includes a support structure including an elongated member having a longitudinal axis, and support plates connected to the elongated member and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis. The elongated member includes a metallic material. The tool also includes a non-metallic backing structure connected to the support plates, the non-metallic backing structure comprising a working surface that includes a backing contour complementary to the target contour.
Claims9
A method of forming a tool for laying up composite material to form a workpiece having a target contour, the method comprising:
- additively manufacturing a non-metallic backing structure comprising a working surface that includes a backing contour complementary to the target contour;
- manufacturing a support structure comprising support plates and an elongated member;
- and
- attaching the non-metallic backing structure to the support structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.