METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENT PREFORMS INCLUDING ENERGETIC BASTING OF WEBS OF REINFORCEMENT MATERIAL AND ENERGETIC STITCHING OF REINFORCEMENT MEMBERS

摘要

A rigid three-dimensional preform is made bymoving a plurality of webs of fibrous reinforcementmaterial superposed and coplanar to a cutter, the websbeing coated with an electromagnetic energy-curablebinder and pressed together. Prior to cutting a blankin a two-dimensional development of the three-dimensional preform from the webs, the webs are tackedtogether at spaced local zones by locally curing thebinder at those zones by locally applying theappropriate electromagnetic radiation (microwave,ultraviolet, electron) so that the webs travel as oneto the cutter. After cutting of the blank, the blankis loaded into a mold to replicate the three-dimensional shape of the preform and the remainder ofthe binder is cured in the mold by the application ofthe appropriate electromagnetic radiation. Anauxiliary member may be attached to the preform byapplying an electromagnetic energy-curable binder toat least one location on the preform, moving theauxiliary member into a desired position and intimatecontact with the binder-coated location and the bindercured at that location by the application of theappropriate electromagnetic radiation.