Abstract: A composites lamination system uses a six-axis positioner and multiple removable heads for applying composite material to a tool. The six-axis positioner has a gantry and a wrist. The gantry has two spaced uprights that support a crossbeam that is movable in the X-axis. A workzone containing a tool is positioned between the two spaced uprights. A movable column is supported on the crossbeam, and is movable relative to the crossbeam in the Y-axis and the Z-axis. A wrist mounted on the column rotates around an I-axis parallel to the X-axis, around a J-axis parallel to the Y-axis, and around a K-axis parallel to the Z-axis. A replaceable head is mounted on the wrist so that the gantry and the wrist provide six axis of motion for the replaceable head, and removal of the head from the wrist allows the six axis of motion to remain with the positioner.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading spools into a creel of a fiber placement machine that is used to charge a mold includes a creel loader and a spool magazine carried by the creel loader. At least one loader mandrel in the spool magazine receives full spools and transfers the full spools to the creel of the fiber placement machine.

Abstract: A fiber placement machine has a fiber placement head and a K-axis housing that is supplied with fiber tow from a creel. The fiber placement head is mounted on the front of the K-axis housing. The fiber placement head has a compaction roller and a cut, clamp, and restart mechanism positioned adjacent to the compaction roller that receives fiber tow from the K-axis housing. A separable coupling connects the fiber placement head to the K-axis housing, whereby the fiber placement head may be disconnected from the K-axis housing for docking purposes.

Abstract: A fiber placement system for producing small sized flat laminates having a length and width that extends in the X and Y axes, and a constant height measured in the Z-axis includes a fixed creel for delivering fiber used by the system, and a fixed bracket attached to the creel. A fiber placement head is supported by the fixed bracket and a movable table for supporting a tool is positioned under the fiber placement head. The fiber placement head is fixed in the X, Y, and Z-axis during the application of fiber to the tool.

Abstract: A system for applying composite fiber to a lay-up tool has a fixed creel for supplying fiber to the fiber placement dispensing head and a fixed arm having a first end attached to the creel and having a second end attached to the dispensing head. The dispensing head is fixed on the end of the arm. A robot having a first and second pivot axis and at least a first wrist supports the lay-up tool. The robot manipulates the tool for application of fiber from the head to the tool. Manipulating the tool instead of the dispensing head allows the path length for the fiber between the creel and head to be fixed in length and orientation during application of fiber to the tool.

Abstract: A tuned mass damper is designed for a machine tool head that moves in the X, Y, and Z directions and rotates around a C-axis that is coincident with the axis of an arm that supports the head. The damper comprises a pair of damper masses symmetrically arranged around the head. Each damper mass has a center of gravity which is approximately in the geometric center of the mass. A resilient mounting is provided for each of the damper masses allowing the damper masses to damp out vibration in the X and Y directions regardless of the orientation of the head.

Abstract: A gantry mounted fiber placement machine has a creel and a head with a compaction roller for applying fiber to a mold or tool. The fiber placement machine has 6 axes of motion. The machine has a gantry that moves in the X-axis, a horizontal gantry beam that is parallel to the Y-axis, and a creel that moves with the gantry in the X-axis. The machine has a head that moves in the Y-axis parallel to the floor and across the gantry beam, and in the Z-axis perpendicular to the X and Y-axes. The head swivels in the I-axis as it rotates about the X-axis, in the J-axis as it rotates about the Y-axis, and in the K-axis as it rotates about the Z-axis.

Abstract: A rigid design for a machine tool having perpendicular X, Y, and Z axes includes fixed X-axis frame members at the back of the machine, fixed Z-axis vertical frame members at the front of the machine, and fixed upper and lower Z-axis frame members rigidly attached to the fixed X-axis frame members and the fixed Z-axis vertical frame members. The frame members form a fixed, rigid, closed force loop design. A movable Y-axis column is bifurcated and a headstock is mounted in the center opening of the column. The headstock is advanced and retracted relative to the workpiece by moving the Y-axis column and the headstock relative to the workpiece. Because the headstock is fixed relative to the Y-axis column, the unsupported portion of the headstock relative to the Y-axis column does not change as the Z-axis position of the headstock changes relative to the workpiece.

Abstract: A tuned damper for the input shaft on a rotary encoder includes a mounting plate and a mass plate having a plurality of mounting flanges each having mounting apertures. Fastening elements couple the mass plate to the mounting plate, and resilient elements or donuts each having a central aperture are positioned on either side of each mounting flange. The diameter of the fastening elements is smaller than the diameter of the mounting apertures and the holes in the resilient donuts so that the fastening elements do not touch the body of either the resilient elements or the mounting flange and the mass plate does not directly contact the mounting plate in order to isolate the mass plate from the mounting plate. The mass plate dampens torsional vibration which may exist in the input shaft of the encoder.

Abstract: A reversing fiber placement head that is capable of bidirectional fiber placement on an application surface includes a feed mechanism for delivering fiber along two feed paths that are in a V-shaped orientation relative to one another. A pressure tip assembly including a compaction roller receives fiber from the two feed paths and applies the fiber to an application surface. A shifting mechanism shifts the pressure tip assembly from a first position on the fiber placement head to a second position on the fiber placement head to move the compaction roller along a linear path relative to the fiber placement head, allowing the compaction roller to change its direction of rotation in order to apply fiber to the application surface in opposite directions.