Automated bias-ply preparation device and process

摘要

A material preparation device (100) is provided. The material preparation device (100) includes a bias-ply assembly (105), a feedstock assembly and an application head (130). The bias-ply assembly (105) is configured to pass a bias-ply backing (146) material along a first path. The feedstock assembly (103) is configured to pass a feedstock (116) along a second path that crosses the first path at a select angle. The feedstock (116) includes resin pre-impregnated fiber reinforced material (pre-preg,300) having the fibers at a first orientation relative to an edge of the feedstock (116). The application head (130) is configured to transfer the pre-preg (300) from the feedstock (116) to the bias-ply backing material (146) at a location where the first path crosses the second path to form a bias-ply (158) with the fibers of the pre-preg (300) having a second different orientation relative to an edge of the formed bias-ply (158).