Abstract: A base supports a workpiece form-holding means in either a stationary or rotatable manner. A cross-slide and corresponding fiber creel assembly which is affixed to, and depends from, the cross-slide assembly is carried with respect to the workpiece form-holding means by a hanging carriage carried on an overhead support beam. A fiber payout eye is carried on the cross-slide assembly for guiding fiber from the fiber creel assembly to the workpiece form as the carriage and cross-slide are moving.

Abstract: An improved fiber guidance system for a fiber placement machine where a fiber placement head is moved by a manipulator wrist with respect to a relatively stationary creel assembly, and a plurality of fiber redirect rollers are used, each having a caster-like mounting base, one roller assembly being mounted to the machine member with the creel assembly, and one member being mounted to the fiber placement head, so that a band of fibers is trained around the first and second redirect rollers under tension and the redirect rollers will swivel about their bases in accordance with spatial orientations of the placement head and in accordance with tension of fiber band, thereby maintaining approximately equal tension at the outer fibers at each side of the fiber band.