LASER HEATING SYSTEM FOR TWO OR FOUR TOW LANES ON AFP HEADS

摘要

An AFP head providing a plurality of fiber element tows under tension to a compaction roller which in operation presses the individual tows onto a substrate to produce a part. A separate laser heat source, such as an individual laser module, is provided for each pair of tows or tetrad of tows. Each laser is separately controllable to provide an on/off capability.