METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPID MOLDING A COMPOSITE STRUCTURE

摘要

A method for molding a composite structure includes the steps of infusing a fabric with a resin to form a ply of composite material, transferring the ply of composite material to a preheat station, and preheating the ply of composite material to a temperature that renders the composite material more drapable, but is less than a temperature that causes the resin in the material to initiate polymerization. The ply of composite material is then transferred to a press station where it is heated to a temperature that causes the resin to initiate polymerization, whereby the curing time for the composite material is substantially less than the curing time of a fabric that is infused with an epoxy resin.