Inventors:
David J. Boll - Salt Lake City UT
Kenneth A. Lowe - West Valley City UT
William T. McCarvill - Salt Lake City UT
Michael R. McCloy - Murray UT
Assignee:
Alliant Techsystems Inc. - Edina MN
International Classification:
B65H 8100
US Classification:
156433, 156425, 156430, 156173, 156175, 156359
Abstract:
Fiber laminations with a resin therein are advanced to substantial cure in situ while resin-impregnated fiber (in the form of individual tows, a band thereof, or a tape) is being placed on a workpiece on the mandrel by preheating the fiber in a temperature range of 100-700° F. for partially advancing the cure of the resin in the fiber, shaping the fiber to the desired shape, and laying up the partially advanced fiber on the workpiece on the mandrel while simultaneously nip-point heating the fiber in an area proximate to the point where the fiber is being placed on the workpiece. A plurality of parameters are monitored during this placement in order to control the nip-point heating so that the resin in the fiber is substantially cured while the fiber is being placed on the workpiece.