Abstract: A composite charge is formed between two compression dies into a composite laminate stiffener. The stiffener is contoured along its length by contouring the dies. Wrinkle diffusers attached to, or embedded or incorporated into the tool surfaces of the dies, diffuse wrinkles formed on the inside radius of the stiffener during the contouring.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for utilizing stringer end caps. One embodiment is a method of forming a stringer. The method includes laying up a stringer preform comprising fiber-reinforced material, placing the stringer preform onto a skin panel preform, bonding an end cap to the stringer preform and the skin panel preform, and co-curing the stringer preform and the skin panel preform while the end cap is bonded to the stringer preform and the skin panel preform, resulting in a composite part that includes the end cap.

Abstract: A method includes dispensing a first set of lanes, that each comprise a tow of fiber-reinforced material, at a first angle such that the lanes are placed side-by-side with respect to each other, forming a first layer of a multi-lane tow. The method further includes applying a film directly in contact with multi-lane tow that resists shear forces applied to the multi-lane tow, transporting the multi-lane tow to a mandrel, and compacting the multi-lane tow via a Ply-By-Ply (PBP) machine disposed at the mandrel. The method further comprises removing the film from the multi-lane tow.

Abstract: Composite laminate stiffeners such as stringers are punch formed between first and second universal dies respectively carried on first and second trays. The second tray is mounted for sliding movement relative to the first tray between a punch position and a compaction position. Parts of the first and second dies are easily reconfigurable, allowing different shapes of stiffeners to be formed on the same forming apparatus.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabricating composite parts. One embodiment is a method for fabricating a composite part. The method includes forming a skin panel preform comprising fiber reinforced material, disposing rigid end caps at the skin panel preform at end locations of stringer preforms that will be placed at the skin panel, locating the stringer preforms at the skin panel preform via the rigid end caps, and anchoring the stringer preforms to the skin panel preform.

Abstract: A composite charge is formed between two compression dies into a composite laminate stiffener. The stiffener is contoured along its length by contouring the dies. Wrinkle diffusers attached to, or embedded or incorporated into the tool surfaces of the dies, diffuse wrinkles formed on the inside radius of the stiffener during the contouring.

Abstract: A composite laminate stiffener is formed to contour with reduced ply wrinkling using constrained creep forming. The tooling apparatus is provided with flexible cauls which constrain the stiffener during the contour forming process. The creep forming is carried out at a slow enough rate so that friction or shear resistance between the resin and fibers of the plies remains low enough that slippage can occur and significant compression stresses are not generated rate, allowing relaxation of residual stresses in the stiffener.

Abstract: A flexible caul for applying pressure to a part comprises a caul member having a plurality of spaced apart gaps therein to provide the caul member with flexibility, and a flexible covering that limits flexing of the caul member.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for composite part fabrication. One embodiment is a method for fabricating a composite part. The method includes selecting an end caul comprising a structure of sintered material surrounding volumes of unsintered particles, creating a laminate comprising fibers within a resin matrix, placing the end caul in contact with an end of the laminate, and processing the laminate.

Abstract: A method includes dispensing a first set of lanes, that each comprise a tow of fiber-reinforced material, at a first angle such that the lanes are placed side-by-side with respect to each other, forming a first layer of a multi-lane tow. The method further includes applying a film directly in contact with multi-lane tow that resists shear forces applied to the multi-lane tow, transporting the multi-lane tow to a mandrel, and compacting the multi-lane tow via a Ply-By-Ply (PBP) machine disposed at the mandrel. The method further comprises removing the film from the multi-lane tow.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabricating composite parts. One embodiment is a method for fabricating a composite part. The method includes forming a skin panel preform comprising fiber reinforced material, disposing rigid end caps at the skin panel preform at end locations of stringer preforms that will be placed at the skin panel, locating the stringer preforms at the skin panel preform via the rigid end caps, and anchoring the stringer preforms to the skin panel preform.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for utilizing stringer end caps. One embodiment is a method of forming a stringer. The method includes laying up a stringer preform comprising fiber-reinforced material, placing the stringer preform onto a skin panel preform, bonding an end cap to the stringer preform and the skin panel preform, and co-curing the stringer preform and the skin panel preform while the end cap is bonded to the stringer preform and the skin panel preform, resulting in a composite part that includes the end cap.

Abstract: A composite laminate stiffener is formed to contour with reduced ply wrinkling using constrained creep forming. The tooling apparatus is provided with flexible cauls which constrain the stiffener during the contour forming process. The creep forming is carried out at a slow enough rate so that friction or shear resistance between the resin and fibers of the plies remains low enough that slippage can occur and significant compression stresses are not generated rate, allowing relaxation of residual stresses in the stiffener.

Abstract: A flexible caul for applying pressure to a part comprises a caul member having a plurality of spaced apart gaps therein to provide the caul member with flexibility, and a flexible covering that limits flexing of the caul member.

Abstract: A composite manufacturing system is provided. The composite manufacturing system comprises a robotic arm and a trimming system connected to the robotic arm. The trimming system comprises a knife, a rotation device, a number of lasers, and a load cell associated with the knife. The rotation device is configured to rotate a blade of the knife about a center point. The number of lasers is configured to determine a position of the blade relative to a desired position for the blade. The load cell is configured to sense an amount of force applied to the blade during trimming of an uncured composite structure. A controller controls the behavior of the trimming system based on information received from its components.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for composite part fabrication. One embodiment is a method for fabricating a composite part. The method includes selecting an end caul comprising a structure of sintered material surrounding volumes of unsintered particles, creating a laminate comprising fibers within a resin matrix, placing the end caul in contact with an end of the laminate, and processing the laminate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for divergent laminates. A method comprises providing a layup tool having a first upper face and a second upper face that rise to intersect each other at a ridge line, the layup tool further having a protrusion on top of a portion of the ridge line, and laying up a laminate onto the upper faces and the protrusion. The method also comprises placing a cure tool on top of the layup tool, the cure tool having a lower face that is dimensioned to mate with the upper faces along a portion of the ridge line that is not covered by the protrusion, thereby leaving a divergent flange of the laminate on top of the protrusion exposed, and sweeping the divergent flange of the laminate upward from the layup tool onto a vertical side the cure tool.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for divergent laminates. A method comprises providing a layup tool having a first upper face and a second upper face that rise to intersect each other at a ridge line, the layup tool further having a protrusion on top of a portion of the ridge line, and laying up a laminate onto the upper faces and the protrusion. The method also comprises placing a cure tool on top of the layup tool, the cure tool having a lower face that is dimensioned to mate with the upper faces along a portion of the ridge line that is not covered by the protrusion, thereby leaving a divergent flange of the laminate on top of the protrusion exposed, and sweeping the divergent flange of the laminate upward from the layup tool onto a vertical side the cure tool.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for the object-oriented automated user interface testing of an application under test in a functional testing tool. The functional testing tool can include a configuration for producing multiple methods defining interactions with individual elements in a user interface to an application under test. The functional testing tool further can include one or more defined actions grouping selected ones of the methods which are used repeatedly within screens of the application under test. Preferably, at least one task defining a group of related activities in the user interface can be produced in the functional testing tool. Subsequently, a test case can be generated which implements the task with at least one verification point.