Method of laying up prepreg plies on contoured tools using a deformable carrier film

US9701067B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Robert D. Hawkins · Bonney Lake, US
• Kurtis S. Willden · Kent, US
• Andrew E. Modin · Enumclaw, US
• Edoardo Depase · Manhattan Beach, US
• Michael L. Glain · Seattle, US
• Benjamin Adam Mussi · Bellevue, US
• Max U. Kismarton · Renton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 7, 2013
• Grant date: Jul 11, 2017
• Expiry date: Jul 7, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B29C70/541
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method is presented. The method comprises identifying a desired shape of a ply on a tool, in which the ply has a fiber orientation; identifying a cut shape for the ply, in which the cut shape is different than the desired shape; cutting a composite prepreg ply to have the cut shape, the composite prepreg ply having the fiber orientation; using a deformable carrier to apply the composite prepreg ply having the cut shape to the tool such that the composite prepreg ply has the desired shape on the tool.