Abstract: There is disclosed a method of inserting a reinforcing rod into a hole in a laminated material. The method comprises a feed operation in which a feed clamp clamps a rod whilst moving towards the laminated material to feed an end section of the rod through a guide clamp into a hole in the laminated material. The method further comprises a re-supply operation in which the feed clamp releases the rod and moves relative the rod along a return direction away from the laminated material whilst the guide clamp clamps the rod. A corresponding insertion head for inserting a reinforcing rod, and insertion equipment comprising the insertion head and a controller is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of inserting a reinforcing rod into a hole in a laminated material. The method comprises a feed operation in which a feed clamp clamps a rod whilst moving towards the laminated material to feed an end section of the rod through a guide clamp into a hole in the laminated material. The method further comprises a re-supply operation in which the feed clamp releases the rod and moves relative the rod along a return direction away from the laminated material whilst the guide clamp clamps the rod. A corresponding insertion head for inserting a reinforcing rod, and insertion equipment comprising the insertion head and a controller is also disclosed.

Abstract: Material preparation devices and related methods include a material or substrate assembly and an application assembly for applying a fiber material.

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: Material preparation devices and related methods include a material or substrate assembly and an application assembly for applying a fiber material.

Abstract: A material preparation device is provided. The material preparation device includes a bias-ply assembly, a feedstock assembly and an application head. The bias-ply assembly is configured to pass a bias-ply backing material along a first path. The feedstock assembly is configured to pass a feedstock along a second path that crosses the first path at a select angle. The feedstock includes resin pre-impregnated fiber-reinforced material (pre-preg) having the fibers at a first orientation relative to an edge of the feedstock. The application head is configured to transfer the pre-preg from the feedstock to the bias-ply backing material at a location where the first path crosses the second path to form a bias-ply with the fibers of the pre-preg having a second, different orientation relative to an edge of the formed bias-ply.

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 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: A material preparation device is provided. The material preparation device includes a bias-ply assembly, a feedstock assembly and an application head. The bias-ply assembly is configured to pass a bias-ply backing material along a first path. The feedstock assembly is configured to pass a feedstock along a second path that crosses the first path at a select angle. The feedstock includes resin pre-impregnated fiber-reinforced material (pre-preg) having the fibers at a first orientation relative to an edge of the feedstock. The application head is configured to transfer the pre-preg from the feedstock to the bias-ply backing material at a location where the first path crosses the second path to form a bias-ply with the fibers of the pre-preg having a second, different orientation relative to an edge of the formed bias-ply.

Abstract: A material preparation device is provided. The material preparation device includes a bias-ply assembly, a feedstock assembly and an application head. The bias-ply assembly is configured to pass a bias-ply backing material along a first path. The feedstock assembly is configured to pass a feedstock along a second path that crosses the first path at a select angle. The feedstock includes resin pre-impregnated fiber reinforced material (pre-preg) having the fibers at a first orientation relative to an edge of the feedstock. The application head is configured to transfer the pre-preg from the feedstock to the bias-ply backing material at a location where the first path crosses the second path to form a bias-ply with the fibers of the pre-preg having a second different orientation relative to an edge of the formed bias-ply.

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.

Abstract: A material preparation device is provided. The material preparation device includes a bias-ply assembly, a feedstock assembly and an application head. The bias-ply assembly is configured to pass a bias-ply backing material along a first path. The feedstock assembly is configured to pass a feedstock along a second path that crosses the first path at a select angle. The feedstock includes resin pre-impregnated fiber reinforced material (pre-preg) having the fibers at a first orientation relative to an edge of the feedstock. The application head is configured to transfer the pre-preg from the feedstock to the bias-ply backing material at a location where the first path crosses the second path to form a bias-ply with the fibers of the pre-preg having a second different orientation relative to an edge of the formed bias-ply.

Abstract: A method for processing a composite includes consolidating a section of a continuous length of a first feedstock together with a section of a continuous length of a second feedstock to form a consolidated section. The first feedstock is made of a first composite layer that is releasably bonded to a first release layer, and the second feedstock is made of a second composite layer that is releasably bonded to a second release layer. The first release layer is then separated from the consolidated section and from a portion of the first composite layer a distance beyond an edge of the consolidated section. The first composite layer is then cut within the distance beyond the edge to release the consolidated section from the remaining continuous length of the first feedstock.

Abstract: A method for processing a composite includes consolidating a section of a continuous length of a first feedstock together with a section of a continuous length of a second feedstock to form a consolidated section. The first feedstock is made of a first composite layer that is releasably bonded to a first release layer, and the second feedstock is made of a second composite layer that is releasably bonded to a second release layer. The first release layer is then separated from the consolidated section and from a portion of the first composite layer a distance beyond an edge of the consolidated section. The first composite layer is then cut within the distance beyond the edge to release the consolidated section from the remaining continuous length of the first feedstock.