METHOD AND SYSTEM HAVING A FLOWABLE PRESSURE PAD FOR CONSOLIDATING AN UNCURED LAMINATE SHEET IN A CURE PROCESS

摘要

A method and system (10) having a flowable pressure pad (22) for consolidating an uncured laminate sheet (14) during a cure cycle is provided. The system (10) includes an autoclave machine (12) for utilizing a pinmat (20) for to perforate and consolidate the sheet (14). This pinmat (20) has a mat portion (28) and a plurality of pins (26) extending from the mat portion (28). These pins (26) are intended to penetrate the uncured laminate sheet (14) during a perforation cycle that occurs prior to the cure cycle. During the cure cycle, the autoclave machine (12) applies a predetermined amount of and pressure heat to the pressure pad (22) for a predetermined amount of time so as to cause the pressure pad (22) to flow around the protruding pins (26). This feature allows the pressure pad (22) to transfer a substantial portion of the applied pressure to the uncured laminate sheet (14) so as to improve consolidation of the sheet (14). In this regard, less pressure is unintentionally transferred to the protruding pins (26). The pressure pad (22) is fabricated from a flowable or malleable material that allows the pressure pad (22) to flow around the protruding pins (26).