A tooling assembly for debulking a fibrous preform includes a first tooling fixture comprising a plurality of receiving holes, and a second tooling fixture comprising a plurality of pins projecting toward the first tooling fixture, each of the plurality of pins corresponding to and extending towards one of the plurality of receiving holes. The second tooling fixture is engageable with the first tooling fixture to define an inner volume therebetween, the inner volume configured to support the preform during debulking while a compressive force is applied thereto.

A tooling assembly for debulking a fibrous preform includes a first tooling fixture comprising a plurality of receiving holes, and a second tooling fixture comprising a plurality of pins projecting toward the first tooling fixture, each of the plurality of pins corresponding to and extending towards one of the plurality of receiving holes. The second tooling fixture is engageable with the first tooling fixture to define an inner volume therebetween, the inner volume configured to support the preform during debulking while a compressive force is applied thereto.

The needle board for use in a needling machine for needling a flat textile material comprises first needle rows and second needle rows, wherein the first needle rows and the second needle rows are arranged inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction of the needle board, which longitudinal direction corresponds to a direction in which the flat textile material to be needled is conveyed in the needling machine. The first needle rows are arranged at a first angle to the longitudinal direction, and the second needle rows are arranged at a second angle to the longitudinal direction. An absolute value of the second angle is different from an absolute value of the first angle.

The needle board for use in a needling machine for needling a flat textile material comprises first needle rows and second needle rows, wherein the first needle rows and the second needle rows are arranged inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction of the needle board, which longitudinal direction corresponds to a direction in which the flat textile material to be needled is conveyed in the needling machine. The first needle rows are arranged at a first angle to the longitudinal direction, and the second needle rows are arranged at a second angle to the longitudinal direction. An absolute value of the second angle is different from an absolute value of the first angle.

An apparatus for through thickness reinforcement of a fibrous preform includes an actuating textile needle, a feeder spool configured to supply a veil cloth, and a take up spool. The feeder spool and take up spool can rotate to cause a portion of the veil cloth to translate such that a needled portion of the veil cloth is received by the take up spool and an unneedled portion of the veil cloth is provided for subsequent needling by the textile needle. In this manner, the veil cloth is only momentarily supplied to the fibrous preform for providing the through thickness fibers and removed from the fibrous preform before subsequent processing of the fibrous preform. The textile needle, feeder spool, and take up spool can be mounted to a common apparatus (e.g., a housing) such that the entire assembly is moveable together as a single unit.

A loom system for making a fibrous preform may comprise a base, a bedplate coupled to the base, wherein the bedplate is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, and an air entangling module coupled to the base. The air entangling module may comprise an air entangling head coupled to an outer support and an inner support, wherein the air entangling head is configured to apply a jet of air toward the bedplate at an entangling zone. The air entangling head may have freedom of motion along the outer support and the inner support, and may be configured to rest on top of a fibrous layer.

A preform manufacturing apparatus comprising a supply of fiber strip, a moveable positive fiber strip delivery mechanism coupled between a desired lay down location and the supply of fiber strip to positively deliver and orient the supply of fiber strip to the desired lay down location, and an electronic unwinder coupled to the supply of fiber strip is described herein. The electronic unwinder is configured to interact with the moveable positive fiber strip delivery mechanism.

The needle module for mounting in receptacles of a needle board of a needling machine comprises a plurality of module segments. Each module segment comprises a segment head and at least one needle, and the segment head is equipped with the at least one needle. The needle module also comprises a guide element extending in a longitudinal direction of the needle module. In an adjustment state of the needle module, the module segments are connected to the guide element, and at least one module segment is movable along the guide element.

The needle board for use in a needling machine for needling a flat textile material comprises first needle rows and second needle rows, wherein the first needle rows and the second needle rows are arranged inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction of the needle board, which longitudinal direction corresponds to a direction in which the flat textile material to be needled is conveyed in the needling machine. The first needle rows are arranged at a first angle to the longitudinal direction, and the second needle rows are arranged at a second angle to the longitudinal direction. An absolute value of the second angle is different from an absolute value of the first angle.

A preform manufacturing apparatus comprising a supply of fiber strip, a moveable positive fiber strip delivery mechanism coupled between a desired lay down location and the supply of fiber strip to positively deliver and orient the supply of fiber strip to the desired lay down location, and an optional electronic unwinder coupled to the supply of fiber strip when more delicate textile strips are used to fabricate the net shape preform is described herein. The electronic unwinder is configured to interact with the moveable positive fiber strip delivery mechanism.