Abstract: There is disclosed a tool for manufacturing a composite component, the tool comprising: a skin composed of fibre reinforced plastic and defining a layup surface for the composite component, the skin having a plurality of passageways extending from the layup surface to an opposing surface of the skin; a backing secured to the skin, the backing and the skin defining a cavity therebetween; a support core disposed within the cavity and comprising a gas-permeable material in fluid communication with the passageways; and a conduit extending through the backing such that the conduit is in fluid communication with the gas-permeable material.

Abstract: There is provided a lay-up head for applying elongate fibre reinforcement material to an application surface. The lay-up head comprises a support head having a transverse axis, a dispensing mechanism carried by the support head for dispensing elongate fibre reinforcement material, and a roller for pressing elongate fibre composite material against the application surface. The roller is tiltable with respect to the support head such that the roller axis can be angled with respect to the transverse axis of support head. The lay-up head also comprises a holding mechanism operable to hold the roller in a central position in which the roller axis is parallel to the transverse axis of the support head.

Abstract: There is disclosed a roller interchange device 200 comprising: a support 202 for mounting on a composite material lay-up head 100; a plurality of roller mounts 208 for mounting respective rollers 312, 314. Each roller mount 208 is selectively moveable to a respective engaged position relative the support 202. The engaged position of each roller mount 208 corresponds to a respective roller being held at a compaction location relative the head when the support is mounted on the head.

Abstract: There is disclosed a roller interchange device 200 comprising: a support 202 for mounting on a composite material lay-up head 100; a plurality of roller mounts 208 for mounting respective rollers 312, 314. Each roller mount 208 is selectively moveable to a respective engaged position relative the support 202. The engaged position of each roller mount 208 corresponds to a respective roller being held at a compaction location relative the head when the support is mounted on the head.

Abstract: There is disclosed a composite material lay-up head (20) for applying elongate fibre reinforcement material (14) to a tool (12), the head (20) comprising: at least one elongate tow guide channel (32) for guiding fibre reinforcement material (14) from a tow inlet (33) to a tow outlet (35) of the channel (32); and feed apparatus (36, 38) for feeding fibre reinforcement material through the at least one channel (32); wherein the or each channel (32) is provided with at least one nozzle (60) arranged so that in use a jet of gas can be delivered into the channel (32) so as to inhibit contact between fibre reinforcement material (14) in the channel (32) and the channel (32).

Abstract: There is disclosed a tool for manufacturing a composite component, the tool comprising: a skin composed of fibre reinforced plastic and defining a layup surface for the composite component, the skin having a plurality of passageways extending from the layup surface to an opposing surface of the skin; a backing secured to the skin, the backing and the skin defining a cavity therebetween; a support core disposed within the cavity and comprising a gas-permeable material in fluid communication with the passageways; and a conduit extending through the backing such that the conduit is in fluid communication with the gas-permeable material.

Abstract: There is disclosed a composite material lay-up head (20) for applying elongate fibre reinforcement material (14) to a tool (12), the head (20) comprising: at least one elongate tow guide channel (32) for guiding fibre reinforcement material (14) from a tow inlet (33) to a tow outlet (35) of the channel (32); and feed apparatus (36, 38) for feeding fibre reinforcement material through the at least one channel (32); wherein the or each channel (32) is provided with at least one nozzle (60) arranged so that in use a jet of gas can be delivered into the channel (32) so as to inhibit contact between fibre reinforcement material (14) in the channel (32) and the channel (32).

Abstract: There is disclosed a cutting mechanism for severing elongate fibre reinforcement material in composite material lay-up equipment, the cutting mechanism comprising a cutting element and a counteracting element which cooperate to sever fibre reinforcement material extending through the nip between them, the cutting element being mounted on an elongate arm which is pivotable about a pivot axis A spaced from the nip, to displace the cutting element relatively to the counteracting element to perform a cutting stroke, the mechanism further comprising guide means arranged to guide the fibre reinforcement material through the nip in a feed direction transverse to the pivot axis A, and an actuation device for driving the elongate arm in a cutting stroke, the actuation device acting on the elongate arm at a position away from the cutting element. There is also provided composite material lay-up equipment comprising the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: There is provided a lay-up head (18) for applying elongate fibre reinforcement material (14) to an application surface (12). The lay-up head (18) comprises a support head (20) having a transverse axis T, a dispensing mechanism (28) carried by the support head for dispensing elongate fibre reinforcement material (14), and a roller (24) for pressing elongate fibre composite material (14) against the application surface (12). The roller (24) is tiltable with respect to the support head (20) such that the roller axis R can be angled with respect to the transverse axis T of support head (20). The lay-up head (18) also comprises a holding mechanism (40) operable to hold the roller (24) in a central position in which the roller axis R is parallel to the transverse axis T of the support head.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cutting mechanism for severing elongate fibre reinforcement material in composite material lay-up equipment, the cutting mechanism comprising a cutting element and a counteracting element which cooperate to sever fibre reinforcement material extending through the nip between them, the cutting element being mounted on an elongate arm which is pivotable about a pivot axis A spaced from the nip, to displace the cutting element relatively to the counteracting element to perform a cutting stroke, the mechanism further comprising guide means arranged to guide the fibre reinforcement material through the nip in a feed direction transverse to the pivot axis A, and an actuation device for driving the elongate arm in a cutting stroke, the actuation device acting on the elongate arm at a position away from the cutting element. There is also provided composite material lay-up equipment comprising the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cutting mechanism for severing elongate fiber reinforcement material in composite material lay-up equipment, the cutting mechanism comprising a cutting element and a counteracting element which cooperate to sever fiber reinforcement material extending through the nip between them, the cutting element being mounted on an elongate arm which is pivotable about a pivot axis A spaced from the nip, to displace the cutting element relatively to the counteracting element to perform a cutting stroke, the mechanism further comprising guide means arranged to guide the fiber reinforcement material through the nip in a feed direction transverse to the pivot axis A, and an actuation device for driving the elongate arm in a cutting stroke, the actuation device acting on the elongate arm at a position away from the cutting element. There is also provided composite material lay-up equipment comprising the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of checking headpath data for a layup operation in which fibre reinforcement material is applied over a tool by an applicator roller of an applicator head biased against the tool along a compaction axis by a compaction force. The method comprises receiving baseline headpath data defining a baseline headpath position of the applicator head relative the tool; and determining a head displacement along the compaction axis corresponding to an equilibrium condition between the compaction force and a reaction force through the fibre reinforcement material. The method further comprises checking for at least one of a non-compacted portion of fibre reinforcement material and an intersection of the applicator head and an obstacle.

Abstract: There is disclosed composite material lay-up equipment for applying a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fiber reinforcement material to an article, the equipment comprising: a support head; a cutting mechanism carried by the support head for severing a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fiber reinforcement material. The cutting mechanism comprises a plurality of cutting elements coupled to and moveable with respect to the support head and a cassette removably attached to the support head and having a plurality of corresponding counteracting elements statically mounted thereto. Each cutting element is displaceable relative to the corresponding counteracting element to perform a cutting stroke in which the respective cutting and counteracting elements cooperate to sever a length of elongate fiber reinforcement material extending through the nip formed between them.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cutting mechanism for severing elongate fibre reinforcement material in composite material lay-up equipment, the cutting mechanism comprising a cutting element and a counteracting element which cooperate to sever fibre reinforcement material extending through the nip between them, the cutting element being mounted on an elongate arm which is pivotable about a pivot axis A spaced from the nip, to displace the cutting element relatively to the counteracting element to perform a cutting stroke, the mechanism further comprising guide means arranged to guide the fibre reinforcement material through the nip in a feed direction transverse to the pivot axis A, and an actuation device for driving the elongate arm in a cutting stroke, the actuation device acting on the elongate arm at a position away from the cutting element. There is also provided composite material lay-up equipment comprising the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: There is disclosed composite material lay-up equipment 10 for applying a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fiber reinforcement material 14 to an article 12, the equipment 10 comprising: a support head 20; a cutting mechanism 22 carried by the support head 20 for severing a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fiber reinforcement material 14. The cutting mechanism 22 comprises a plurality of cutting elements 60 coupled to and moveable with respect to the support head 20 and a cassette 65 removably attached to the support head 20 and having a plurality of corresponding counteracting elements 76 statically mounted thereto. Each cutting element 60 is displaceable relative to the corresponding counteracting element 76 to perform a cutting stroke in which the respective cutting and counteracting elements 60, 76 cooperate to sever a length of elongate fiber reinforcement 14 material extending through the nip formed between them.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cutting mechanism 22 for severing elongate fiber reinforcement material 14 in composite material lay-up equipment 10, the cutting mechanism 22 comprising a cutting element 60 and a counteracting element 76 which cooperate to sever fiber reinforcement material 14 extending through the nip between them, the cutting element 60 being mounted on an elongate arm 44 which is pivotable about a pivot axis A spaced from the nip, to displace the cutting element 60 relatively to the counteracting element 76 to perform a cutting stroke, the mechanism 22 further comprising guide means 52 arranged to guide the fiber reinforcement material 14 through the nip in a feed direction transverse to the pivot axis A, and an actuation device 84 for driving the elongate arm 44 in a cutting stroke, the actuation device 84 acting on the elongate arm 44 at a position away from the cutting element 60. There is also provided composite material lay-up equipment 10 comprising the cutting mechanism 22.

Abstract: There is disclosed composite material lay-up equipment for applying a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fibre reinforcement material to an article, the equipment comprising: a support head; a cutting mechanism carried by the support head for severing a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fibre reinforcement material. The cutting mechanism comprises a plurality of cutting elements coupled to and moveable with respect to the support head and a cassette removably attached to the support head and having a plurality of corresponding counteracting elements statically mounted thereto. Each cutting element is displaceable relative to the corresponding counteracting element to perform a cutting stroke in which the respective cutting and counteracting elements cooperate to sever a length of elongate fibre reinforcement material extending through the nip formed between them.

Abstract: There is disclosed composite material lay-up equipment 10 for applying a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fibre reinforcement material 14 to an article 12, the equipment 10 comprising: a support head 20; a cutting mechanism 22 carried by the support head 20 for severing a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fibre reinforcement material 14. The cutting mechanism 22 comprises a plurality of cutting elements 60 coupled to and moveable with respect to the support head 20 and a cassette 65 removably attached to the support head 20 and having a plurality of corresponding counteracting elements 76 statically mounted thereto. Each cutting element 60 is displaceable relative to the corresponding counteracting element 76 to perform a cutting stroke in which the respective cutting and counteracting elements 60, 76 cooperate to sever a length of elongate fibre reinforcement 14 material extending through the nip formed between them.