Inventors:
Justin B. Alms - Newark DE, US
James L. Glancey - Blackbird DE, US
Suresh G. Advani - Newark DE, US
Assignee:
University of Delaware - Newark DE
International Classification:
B29C 45/77, G05D 3/12
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for vacuum infusing resin into a fabric preform within a mold. The methods comprise increasing permeability in a selected region, such as by deploying a VIPR chamber in a location corresponding to the resin injection port corresponding to the resin flow front furthest from the mold vent or a 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.