For the exact lateral continuous positioning of material plies on a forming tool, a positioning device is provided to position a material ply on a forming tool during a production of a fiber composite component, comprising a positioning unit for positioning the positioning device in relation to a surface of the forming tool, a movement unit for moving the positioning device along a predetermined movement route along the forming tool, a route position detection unit for detecting the current route position of the positioning device on the movement route, and a material ply positioning unit for positioning the material ply in a direction transverse to the movement direction in dependence on the current route position detected by the route position detection unit.

A method is described for producing a prepreg formed by applying a matrix resin to a reinforcing fiber sheet, wherein the method can effect continuous running without clogging due to generated fuzz even at a high running speed and effect efficient impregnation of the reinforcing fiber sheet with a matrix resin. A method of producing a prepreg includes allowing a reinforcing fiber sheet to pass substantially vertically downward through the inside of a coating section storing a matrix resin to obtain a matrix resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber sheet in which the matrix resin is applied to the reinforcing fiber sheet and at least heating the matrix resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber sheet, wherein the coating section includes a liquid pool and a narrowed section which are in communication with each other, wherein the liquid pool has a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously along a running direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet.

A method is described for producing a prepreg formed by applying a matrix resin to a reinforcing fiber sheet, wherein the method can effect continuous running without clogging due to generated fuzz even at a high running speed and effect efficient impregnation of the reinforcing fiber sheet with a matrix resin. A method of producing a prepreg includes allowing a reinforcing fiber sheet to pass substantially vertically downward through the inside of a coating section storing a matrix resin to obtain a matrix resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber sheet in which the matrix resin is applied to the reinforcing fiber sheet and at least heating the matrix resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber sheet, wherein the coating section includes a liquid pool and a narrowed section which are in communication with each other, wherein the liquid pool has a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously along a running direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet.

A vehicle component that includes at least one fiber preform. The fiber preform includes a substrate, a fiber bundle having one or more types of reinforcing fibers, and a thread. The fiber bundle is arranged on the substrate and attached to the substrate by a plurality of stitches of the thread to form a first preform layer having a principal orientation. The vehicle component includes a core having a geometry with at least one edge and at least one the fiber preforms positioned along the at least one edge, the core and the fiber preform being overmolded in a resin. A process of making the vehicle component includes providing the core having the at least one edge, positioning the at least one fiber preform along the at least one edge, and overmolding the core and the at least one fiber preform in the resin.

A vehicle component that includes at least one fiber preform. The fiber preform includes a substrate, a fiber bundle having one or more types of reinforcing fibers, and a thread. The fiber bundle is arranged on the substrate and attached to the substrate by a plurality of stitches of the thread to form a first preform layer having a principal orientation. The vehicle component includes a core having a geometry with at least one edge and at least one the fiber preforms positioned along the at least one edge, the core and the fiber preform being overmolded in a resin. A process of making the vehicle component includes providing the core having the at least one edge, positioning the at least one fiber preform along the at least one edge, and overmolding the core and the at least one fiber preform in the resin.

Systems and methods are provided for consolidating a preform of braided fiber. One embodiment is a method that includes acquiring a braided preform comprising fibers of unidirectional material that have been woven into a shape having a closed cross-section, disposing the braided preform within a mandrel, disposing an inflatable bladder within the closed cross-section of the braided preform, and iteratively applying pressure to the braided preform via the bladder to consolidate the braided preform against the mandrel.

Systems and methods are provided for consolidating a preform of braided fiber. One embodiment is a method that includes acquiring a braided preform comprising fibers of unidirectional material that have been woven into a shape having a closed cross-section, disposing the braided preform within a mandrel, disposing an inflatable bladder within the closed cross-section of the braided preform, and iteratively applying pressure to the braided preform via the bladder to consolidate the braided preform against the mandrel.

Provided is an improvement in a method for manufacturing a slit carbon fiber bundle. The method for manufacturing a slit carbon fiber bundle of the present invention is a method including a step of forming a resin film on one surface of a flat carbon fiber bundle to obtain a single-sided coated carbon fiber bundle, and a step of partially slitting the single-sided coated carbon fiber bundle using a slitter roll to obtain a slit carbon fiber bundle, which has been split into sub-bundles, wherein in the step of slitting, the single-sided coated carbon fiber bundle contacts a circumferential surface of the slitter roll on a surface where the resin film has been formed.

Provided is an improvement in a method for manufacturing a slit carbon fiber bundle. The method for manufacturing a slit carbon fiber bundle of the present invention is a method including a step of forming a resin film on one surface of a flat carbon fiber bundle to obtain a single-sided coated carbon fiber bundle, and a step of partially slitting the single-sided coated carbon fiber bundle using a slitter roll to obtain a slit carbon fiber bundle, which has been split into sub-bundles, wherein in the step of slitting, the single-sided coated carbon fiber bundle contacts a circumferential surface of the slitter roll on a surface where the resin film has been formed.

A device for shaping at least one fibrous preform for producing a bladed part of a turbomachine, this device including a mould formed by several parts that are interlocked with each other, this mould defining at least one internal cavity configured to receive the preform and to enclose the preform integrally, this cavity being intended to have two platform areas and a blade area extending between the two platform areas, wherein the mould includes at least a lower shell, an upper shell, a side shell, and end shells, and in that each of the side and end shells includes three elements, respectively lower, intermediate and upper.