COMPUTER CONTROLLED FLOW MANIPULATION FOR VACUUM INFUSION PROCESSES

摘要

Methods and apparatus for vacuum infusing resin into a fabric preform within a mold. The methods comprise deploying a VIPR chamber to increase permeability in a desired location identified by predictive modeling as best to achieve a desired flow front geometry. Suitable apparatus comprise a VIPR chamber, an image detector for detecting resin flow fronts, a processor programmed to identify a desired location to deploy the VIPR chamber, and an automatic positioner for moving the VIPR chamber to the identified location.