Abstract: A method for manufacturing a curved fiber reinforced body of plastic material by cutting plastic impregnated fibers with a cutter, directing the cut fibers onto a rotating form and applying a plastic material to the fibers. The fibers are deposited in predetermined radial and circumferential directions to build up a proform of overlapping layers of oriented fibers as the form is rotated. The preform is shaped by compression between mating shaping forms to substantially the final molded shape. The plastic material contains a curative and is partially cured under controlled conditions after the preform is built. The preform is then preheated in an oven and molded under predetermined pressures and temperatures.

Abstract: A preform of oriented plastic coated fibers is shaped by closing of a mold on the preform. The mold contains a molding space having substantially the final shape of the finished product. A peripheral space is provided in the mold at the edges of the molding space permitting substantially unrestricted movement of the preform into the molding space during the closing operation and providing a space for the edges of the preform during curing. The mold has mating mold members and one of the mold members has sloped lead-in surfaces at the edges of the molding surface for facilitating the movement of the preform into the molding space without distortion of the oriented fibers. The shaping may be done with at least part of the mold being heated and the curing in the mold is accomplished by locking the mold members together and applying heat to the mold.