APPARATUS FOR TAPE LAYING AND MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITE STRUCTURES

摘要

An apparatus for forming composite, fiber/resin components from fibrous, resin-impregnated tape comprises a gantry 11 for positioning a tape applicator head assembly 413 over a mold structure 412, which defines a mold surface of planar or contoured configuration. A control system is employed to control the movement of the tape head 413 over the mold surface 412 comprising a programmable means for controlling movement in the longitudinal X-axis, the transverse X-axis, gross movement in a vertical Z and a rotational R-axis parallel to the X-axis and passing under the head 413. Primary and initial movement is controlled in accordance with a sequence command program in cooperation with a resident program in a digital computer. A second, adaptive control system is employed for enabling the tape dispensing head to follow vertical contours of the mold surface during X-Y movement across the surface, and provides a control means for fine adjustment of the tape head through the Z and R-axis such that the tape head is oriented substantially normal to the mold surface. IMAGE