Methods and apparatus for curing curved cylinder-like workpieces (e.g., in the shape of a half or full barrel) made of composite material, such as nacelle honeycomb core composite sandwich structures. These methods enable tailored curing of composite nacelle structures, to significantly reduce capital cost and fabrication cycle time. In lieu of an autoclave or oven, a pressurized ring-shaped cure volume is defined by a partitioned enclosure that mimics the cylinder-like shape of the composite nacelle structure with only limited clearance (e.g., a partitioned enclosure comprising inner and outer concentric cylinder-like walls). A tool (e.g., a mandrel) and at least one composite nacelle structure supported thereon are placed in the cure volume for curing. Integrally heated tooling, optionally in combination with other heating methods, such as infrared heaters, is utilized to provide the temperature profile necessary for cure.

A processing apparatus such as a heating and/or debulking apparatus that may be used to debulk a plurality of uncured composite layers to form an article such as an aircraft component may include a plurality of interconnected smart susceptor heater blankets. The plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets may be connected in series or in parallel, and may be controlled to uniformly heat the component during formation. The plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets may be supported by a deployment system that lowers the plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets toward, and raises the plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets away from, a working surface.

The present disclosure is directed to a method of forming a composite component. The method includes laying one or more layers of uncured composite material onto a mandrel. The mandrel which includes a plurality of conductive media dispersed in a thermoplastic material. An electric current is supplied to the mandrel to resistively heat the one or more layers of uncured composite material to a temperature sufficient to cure the one or more layers of uncured composite material to form a cured composite component. The mandrel is removed from the cured composite component.

An apparatus for forming an injection molded article is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pumping system to deliver a silicone formulation to a mold, the silicone formulation having a viscosity of about 50,000 centipoise to about 2,000,000 centipoise. The mold has an exterior housing and an interior cavity therein, wherein the silicone formulation flows into the cavity of the mold. The apparatus further includes a source of radiation energy, wherein the radiation energy substantially cures the silicone formulation within the cavity of the mold to form the injection molded article. The present disclosure further includes a method of forming the injection molded article and a mold for an injection molded article.

A reservoir provided in a hard-point fixture is pre-loaded with a curable adhesive, where the reservoir is protected from the curing radiation. The fixture is placed on a target surface and the adhesive is extruded from the reservoir into a space between the fixture and the target surface. An irradiating device to cure the adhesive is provided in the fixture and activated to couple the fixture to the surface. Once the curing process is complete, the fixture is released from the placement system leaving the fixture affixed to the target surface.

A hard-point fixture placement system places a fixture that is pre-loaded with a curable adhesive by mechanically extruding the adhesive between the fixture and a target surface to which the fixture is to be attached. The placement system includes an irradiating device to cure the adhesive. The hard-point fixture stores the adhesive in a reservoir that is protected from the curing radiation. Once the curing process is complete, the fixture is released from the placement system leaving the fixture affixed to the target surface.

A multi-layer composite structure, or heated build platform, to serve as a build foundation for printing 3D objects and providing non-destructive, auto-ejection of the printed object. The heated build platform is comprised of one or more layers including a low surface energy thermoplastic layer, a high flatness and dimensional stability layer, a heat spreading layer, a high thermal density layer, a heater layer, an active convection cooling device, a frame, and a bed leveling device. The layers of the heated build platform are implemented to provide steady state operating conditions for printing 3D objects.

A adaptive build environment to serve as a build foundation for printing 3D objects in an environment that is controlled and isolated both from outside conditions and within the print environment itself. The adaptive build environment is comprised of one or more modular panels including an active cooling subsystem having a first thermal heat sink component, a second thermal heat sink component, a convection generating device, an inner plate, an outer plate, and a gas or fluid exit. In some implementations, a segmented gas and fluid guidance system may be included in one or more of the panels of the adaptive build environment in place of, or in addition to, the second thermal heat sink. The panels of the adaptive build environment are implemented to provide steady state operating conditions for printing 3D objects.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for narrowing the inside diameter of tubing, in some cases where the narrowing is provided by a taper on one or both ends of the narrowed portion of the tubing.

The present invention sufficiently heats a repairing material while preventing change in quality of a base material provided with the repairing material so as to securely bond the repairing material to a repair target portion. The repair method of the present invention, in order to repair a repair target portion 14 existing in an outer panel 1, includes: a repairing material disposing step of disposing a repairing patch 21 including a resistance heating element 23 and a carbon fiber reinforced resin, and an adhesive 22A including a thermosetting resin before being hardened for bonding the repairing patch 21 on the repair target portion 14; and a heating-hardening step of heating and hardening the thermosetting resin of the adhesive 22A by causing the resistance heating element 23 to generate heat through supply of electricity thereto.