Systems for manufacturing composite parts with female tools

摘要

Methods and systems for manufacturing fiber-reinforced resin parts are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin part includes positioning a plurality of fibers on a mold surface of a female tool, and covering the fibers with a sealing layer. The method further includes pressing a portion of the covered fibers against an interior transition region (e.g., an internal radius) of the mold surface. While the portion of covered fibers is pressed against the interior transition region, air is removed from between the sealing layer and the mold surface to draw at least a partial vacuum between the sealing layer and the mold surface.

主权项

1. A tooling system for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin part, the tooling system comprising:
a tool having a female mold surface configured to support a plurality of fibers covered by a sealing layer, the female mold surface having a first side region, a second side region, a third side region, a first interior transition region positioned between the first side region and the second side region, and a second interior transition region positioned between the second side region and the third side region; a tooling aid having:
a base portion held against the tool;a support member extending downwardly from the base portion;a first pressing device carried by the support member and configured to move outwardly away from the support member to compress a first portion of the plurality of fibers between the first pressing device and the first interior transition region, the first pressing device configured to compress the first portion of the plurality of fibers without compressing other portions of the plurality of fibers against the first side region, the second side region, or the third side region; anda second pressing device carried by the support member and configured to move outwardly away from the support member to compress a second portion of the plurality fibers between the second pressing device and the second interior transition region, the second pressing device configured to compress the second portion of the plurality of fibers without compressing other portions of the plurality of fibers against the first side region, the second side region, or the third side region; anda vacuum configured to remove air from between the sealing layer and the mold surface while pressing the first portion of the plurality of fibers between the first pressing device and the first interior transition region, and while pressing the second portion of the plurality fibers between the second pressing device and the second interior transition region, drawing at least a partial vacuum between the sealing layer and the mold surface.