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 electronic device includes a fascia manufactured from a shape memory polymer. One or more thermal elements can be disposed adjacent to the fascia or integrated into the fascia. One or more processors can be operable with the one or more thermal elements to detect deformation along at least a portion of the fascia and cause the one or more thermal elements to selectively apply heat to the shape memory polymer along at least a portion of the fascia to reverse at least some of the deformation.

Various implementations include a method of curing of thermoset resin. The method includes disposing one or more thermoset resin layers in a layup; disposing one or more heaters in the layup, wherein each of the one or more heaters includes two electrodes, wherein the two electrodes of each of the one or more heaters are couplable to an external electricity source when the one or more heaters are disposed in the layup; and providing enough electricity to the electrodes of each of the one or more heaters to cause the one or more heaters to heat the layup to fully cure the one or more thermoset resin layers to form a cured laminate.

Provided is a composite material molding apparatus that can evenly heat a molding surface of a metal mold and shorten the cycle time. The composite material molding apparatus includes an upper die and a lower die having molding surfaces that accommodate a composite material member and shape the composite material member. The upper die and the lower die each have a planar graphite heater provided along installation positions so as to have a constant distance from the molding surface in a manner corresponding to the shape of the molding surface.

A method for manufacturing a composite part by laying up courses of composite tape using an automated tape layup (ATL) machine onto a conductive flexible facesheet laid flat on a flat surface, and then transferring the facesheet with the composite material thereon to a curved tooling surface for attachment of substructures and curing into the composite part. The method may also include applying insulation below the facesheet and above the composite material, then heating the conductive facesheet to cure the composite tape and fuse the composite tape to the substructures without heating the tooling surface or any other items used to compress and cure the composite material into the composite part. Heating of the facesheet may be performed using joule heat provided by a single turn transformer inducing current to a plurality of conductive wires attached at opposing ends to the facesheet.

A system for manufacturing a composite part including a conductive flexible facesheet and an automated tape layup (ATL) machine for laying up composite tape onto the facesheet that is laid flat on a flat surface. The system also includes a curved tooling surface for transferring the facesheet with the composite material thereon to the curved tooling surface for attachment of substructures and curing into the composite part. System may also include insulation placed below the facesheet and insulation placed above the composite material, as well as a source of electricity and heat for heating the conductive facesheet to cure, melt, or fuse the composite tape and substructures without heating the tooling surface and other tooling used in the composite curing process. Heating of the facesheet may be performed using joule heat provided by a single turn transformer inducing current to conductive wires attached at opposing ends to the facesheet.

A method and apparatus for cutting a Non-Crimp Fabric for improving edge stability and reducing stitch retraction is disclosed. The part of the NCF to be cut is treated with a binder and heated to activate the binder and therefore bind the tows and stitches together. By treating only the cutting path the drapability of the wider fabric is maintained. This may be achieved by heating only the part of the NCF to be cut, or applying binder to only the part of the NCF to be cut. The NCF may be compressed and cooled before cutting to improve binding action. A ply cutter may be adapted to carry out the invention by including a heat source and optionally a binder dispenser, compressor and cooler.

Methods and systems for electrically heating and cooling rollers is described. A system may include one or more rollers comprising one or more electrical heating elements and one or more air channels. The one or more electrical heating elements may integrated to a power source and control circuit through an electrical contact on at least one end of the roller. The control circuit may additionally receive input from one or more temperature sensors.

The heater assembly includes a case having a heating element therein, a channel extending through the case and having a size and shape for selectively receiving therethrough a first end of an elastomeric fixture outstretched through a substrate to a first length having a first width, and a heat transfer surface positioned relative to the heating element for receiving generated heat therefrom. The heat transfer surface is generally positionable relative to the substrate to cooperate with an adhesively bondable attachment coupled to a second end of the elastomeric fixture opposite the first end and including an uncured bonding agent disposed thereon. The heater assembly and attachment simultaneously sandwich the substrate in compression engagement in between when the elastomeric fixture extends through the substrate into the central channel and relaxes to a second relatively shorter length having a second relatively larger width.

A method for producing a fibrous preform includes placing a fibrous mat onto a depositing surface, the depositing surface being formed by a web face of a mold core, a first support surface of a first support installation and a second support surface of a second support installation. The fibrous mat is covered by a film and is pressed in a planar manner onto the depositing surface by generating a vacuum. Bringing to bear the fibrous mat on lateral faces of the mold core that extend transversely to the web face is subsequently performed by moving the support installations and the mold core relative to one another in such a manner that a level differential between the web face of the mold core and the support surfaces of the support installations is enlarged. A device for producing a fibrous preform is furthermore described.