METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING COMPOSITE PARTS

摘要

A method of making a composite part includes the steps of placing a first section of a fibrous pre-form (16) in a mold (12) and infusing the first section (17) of the fibrous pre-form with a resin so as to produce a resin-infused portion (36) and a non-resin-infused portion (40). Next, the method includes coupling the non-resin-infused portion to a second section (70) of the fibrous pre-form to create a coupled non-resin-infused portion (80). Then, the coupled non-resin-infused portion (80) is infused with resin to create a second resin-infused portion and a second non-resin-infused portion. These steps are repeated to separately infuse different sections of the part until the part is complete. The corresponding apparatus preferably employs a rigid mold (12) having a shape defining only a portion of the composite part to be made. And, the method is particularly adapted to making both cored and non-cored structures that are large or unconventionally shaped.