Apparatus and method for stabilizing a formable material while forming

A part forming apparatus for shaping a formable material into a rigid part having angled flanges, the part forming apparatus comprising:

• two holding chambers actuatable between a first open configuration and a second closed configuration in which the two holding chambers cooperatively form a single substantially enclosed holding chamber;
• two rigid forming components, each fixed within one of the two holding chambers and configured to compress the formable material when the two holding chambers are in the second closed configuration with the formable material disposed between the two rigid forming components;
• a first pressure source;
• an inflatable component fixed relative to at least one of the rigid forming components and at least one of the holding chambers, wherein the component is fluidly coupled with the first pressure source for inflation thereof when the two holding chambers are in the second closed configuration;
• and
• a heat source configured to cure the formable material when the two holding chambers are in the second closed configuration and the inflatable component is at least partially inflated.

A method of manufacturing an aircraft part from formable material, the method comprising the steps of:

• placing the formable material on a rigid forming component comprising a first rigid forming component and a second rigid forming component;
• actuating the first rigid forming component to compress a non-flange portion of the formable material between the first rigid forming component and the second rigid forming component;
• after the first rigid forming component is actuated to compress the non-flange portion of the formable material, actuating expansion of an inflatable component comprising two hollow bladders made of inflatable material, both of the two hollow bladders being mounted in fixed relation to the first rigid forming component and located at opposing sides of the first rigid forming component, such that the inflatable component presses flange portions of the formable material against the rigid forming component;
• and
• forming the formable material while the formable material is pressed between the inflatable component and the rigid forming component.