AN INSTALLATION FOR MAKING NEEDLED FIBER PREFORMS FOR USE IN MANUFACTURING PARTS MADE OF COMPOSITE MATERIAL

摘要

The installation comprises support tooling having a shapethat corresponds to that of the preform to be made and on whichsuperposed layers of a two-dimensional fiber fabric can bedraped; a needling head comprising a group of needles, a devicefor driving the needles lengthwise with reciprocatingtranslation motion, and a bearing plate provided withperforations to pass the needles and suitable for being pressedagainst a layer draped over the support tooling; an armcarrying the needling head and possessing a plurality ofdegrees of freedom; and a control device for automaticallycontrolling the displacement of the arm to move the needlinghead within the range of the arm along predeterminedtrajectories and with predetermined orientations.