| 摘要 |
<p>A reconfigurable molding assembly (80) for use in a method for controlling thickness during lay-up and fabrication of a composite article, the method including a preparatory stage and a fabrication stage, comprising: a preparatory molding assembly for forming an autoclave-compacted final laminate package (FLP) during the preparatory stage that constitutes the composite article to be manufactured, said preparatory molding assembly including a base mold member (52) having a molding surface (54) that defines one outer mold line surface of the autoclave-compacted final laminate package, opposed, removable lay-up rails (82) having definition surfaces (84) mounted in combination with said base mold member, and retention blocks (60) inserted in abutting engagement with said opposed, removable lay-up rails and said base mold member to maintain said opposed, removable lay-up rails in immovable combination with respect to said base mold member wherein the spacing between said definition surfaces of said opposed, removable lay-up rails defines an overbuild width of the autoclave-compacted final laminate package; wherein said preparatory molding assembly is reconfigured after formation of the autoclave-compacted final laminate package by disassembling said retention blocks and removing said opposed, removable lay-up rails in preparation for the fabrication stage; and a fabrication molding assembly for forming the composite article from the autoclave-compacted final laminate package during the fabrication stage, said fabrication molding assembly comprising said base mold member having the autoclave-compacted final laminate package layed-up thereon, a deformable back-pressure system (70) abutted in combination with each lateral edge of the autoclave-compacted final laminate package, opposed, removable cure rails (56) mounted in combination with said base mold member (52) in abutting engagement with said deformable back-pressure system, retention blocks (60) inserted in combination with said opposed, removable cure rails and said base mold member to maintain said opposed, removable cure rails in immovable combination with respect to said base mold member wherein the spacing between said opposed, removable cure rails defines the overbuild width of the autoclave-compacted final laminate package plus the width of the deformable back-pressure system disposed along each lateral edge of the autoclave-compacted final laminate package, and means for applying a cure force to the autoclave-cured final laminate package. <IMAGE> <IMAGE> <IMAGE> <IMAGE> <IMAGE> <IMAGE> <IMAGE></p> |
