Method for forming composite parts using reconfigurable modular tooling
US5846464A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 8, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 28, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S425/044
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of forming composite parts that consist of the steps of generating a part design in a computer graphics system, positioning an array of rubber blocks having an array of apertures with slidable pins therein and locking the rubber blocks together on a servo drive mechanism forming a tooling fixture. The array of pins has a flexible face sheet connected to them such that the array of pins is adjusted to form the face sheet to approximate the contour of the composited part to be manufactured. The tooling module is then removed from the base servo drive mechanism and used as a mold in an autoclave for cutting composite materials.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.