Abstract: A vacuum laminating fixture includes a pair of opposed plates having opposed plane faces with a peripheral groove formed in each plate surrounding the face with the grooves matched for receiving a unitary band seal extending between the grooves for sealing the space between the faces of the plates, a vacuum port is formed in the lower plate communicating with the area of the face inside the peripheral groove. The method includes setting up a laminate of plural flexible sheets of circuit, placing the laminate within and between the faces of the plates, drawing a vacuum of 28 inches of mercury for a period of two minutes to completely evacuate the space between the laminate sheets, and thereafter applying a predetermined curing pressure and temperature to the plates within a press.

Abstract: A vacuum laminating fixture includes a pair of opposed plates having opposed plane faces with a peripheral groove formed in each plate surrounding the face with the grooves matched for receiving a unitary band seal extending between the grooves for sealing the space between the faces of the plates, a vacuum port is formed in the lower plate communicating with the area of the face inside the peripheral groove. The method includes setting up a laminate of plural flexible sheets of circuit, placing the laminate within and between the faces of the plates, drawing a vacuum of 28 inches of mercury for a period of two minutes to completely evacuate the space between the laminate sheets, and thereafter applying a predetermined curing pressure and temperature to the plates within a press.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a bonded composite structure, such as a missile fin, includes the step of forming uncured components for the composite structure with appropriate molds. The individual components are placed together to form an unbonded composite of the structure. The unbonded composite is inserted into a female mold of the composite. The female mold is comprised of material having predetermined high thermal expansion properties. The female mold with the unbonded composite inserted therein is enclosed in a rigid container. The container is heated to expand the mold, apply pressure to the composite, and bond the components of the composite together in a single curing cycle.