Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Vorformlingen

摘要

A flexible glass fiber reinforcement material has a microwave-sensitive or ultraviolet sensitive binder added and is formed into a desired shape. Selected electromagnetic energy (microwave or ultraviolet) is then applied to cure and rigidize the binder. A mold (72) for shaping the reinforcement material comprises a mold cavity defined by microwave or ultraviolet transparent material divided into separate and separable mold parts and, for microwave applications, each part carries one half of a split microwave waveguide which directs microwave energy to cure the binder resin when the mold is closed. For ultraviolet applications, an ultraviolet source (or sources) is located in the mold. Energetic stitching of a reinforcement rib is performed by applying a binder resin to the rib at at least one location, placing that location into contact with a preform (84) and curing the binder resin to bond the parts together.