Systems and methods are provided for facilitating pick and placement of preforms. One embodiment is a method for picking and placing a preform. The method includes placing an inner surface of a first caul plate into contact with a first side of a stringer preform, such that an outer surface of the first caul plate forms a first plane that is uniform along a length of the stringer preform, placing an inner surface of a second caul plate into contact with a second side of the stringer preform, such that an outer surface of the second caul plate forms a second plane that is parallel to the first plane along a length of the stringer preform, grasping the caul plates at the first plane and the second plane along the length of the stringer preform, and lifting the stringer preform together with the caul plates while maintaining the grasp.

A multilayer core molding method includes an upstream process of molding using an upstream process molding apparatus, which includes a first upstream process mold including a first upstream process mold cavity surface, and a second upstream process mold including a second upstream process mold cavity surface. The upstream process includes an inner core arrangement step and a covering step to obtain an intermediate molded body, which includes the inner core, and the unvulcanized or semi-vulcanized first outer core material covering only part of a surface of the inner core and integrated with the inner core.

A multilayer core molding method for molding a multilayer core of a golf ball includes an upstream process; and a downstream process, wherein the intermediate molded body includes: an inner core; and an unvulcanized or semi-vulcanized first outer core material, and the downstream process molding apparatus includes: a first downstream process mold including a substantially hemispherical first downstream process mold cavity surface; a second downstream process mold including a substantially hemispherical second downstream process mold cavity surface; and an intermediate plate including a substantially hemispherical intermediate plate cavity surface, and a substantially hemispherical intermediate plate projecting surface, and wherein the downstream process includes: a second outer core arrangement step; an intermediate molded body arrangement; and a preparatory molding step.

A fiber placement head for applying a plurality of composite tape segments on a mold including one or more powered wheels that are configured to engage and move composite tape; and one or more elongated fingers that closely conform to or abut an outer surface of the powered wheel(s) such that a portion of the elongated finger(s) forms at least a portion of a lane path.

A green tyre (2) for bicycles is built, comprising at least one carcass ply (4) having axially opposite end flaps (4a) engaged with respective bead cores (5) and a tread band (6) applied in a radially outer position around said at least one carcass ply (4). The built tyre (2) removed from the building drum, is profiled so as to translate the tread band (6) in a radially outer direction with respect to the bead cores (5), so as to impart a cross-sectional convex profile to the tyre (2) in a radially outer direction. The profiled tyre is engaged by means of a transfer member (31) comprising a gripping device (30) which retains it at the radially outer surface (2b) so as to maintain said cross-sectional convex profile in a radially outer direction.

An apparatus and method for the automated manufacturing of three-dimensional (3D) composite-based objects is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a material feeder, a printer, a powder system, a transfer system, and optionally a fuser. The method comprises inserting a stack of substrate sheets into a material feeder, transferring a sheet of the stack from the material feeder to a printer, depositing fluid on the single sheet while the sheet rests on a printer platen, transferring the sheet from the printer to a powder system, depositing powder onto the single sheet such that the powder adheres to the areas of the sheet onto which the printer has deposited fluid, removing any powder that did not adhere to the sheet, optionally melting the powder on the substrate, and repeating the steps for as many additional sheets as required for making a specified 3D object.

Systems and methods are provided for vacuum handling of composite parts. One embodiment is a method for picking up, placing, and compacting an object. The method includes covering a part of an object with an impermeable membrane, applying a negative pressure via an end effector that is sufficient to offset any air leaks between a first portion of the impermeable membrane and the object, thereby forming a suction hold that secures the object to the impermeable membrane, and transporting the object to a rigid tool while the suction hold is retained. The method further comprises applying a negative pressure via the end effector that offsets air leaks between a second portion of the impermeable membrane and the rigid tool, thereby forming a suction hold that compacts the object to the rigid tool.

A method for use in forming a composite structure that includes dispensing a first sheet of composite material, cutting the first sheet of composite material to form one of a plurality of plies of composite material, and providing the plurality of plies of composite material to a forming tool one at a time in a ply laydown sequence. A first sequential ply in the ply laydown sequence is provided, and then a second sequential ply in the ply laydown sequence is automatically provided after the first sequential ply has been provided.

A method for use in ply compaction in forming a composite structure. The method includes positioning a ply of material on a forming tool having a web surface and at least one flange surface extending from the web surface, positioning a flange forming device at the ply of material on the forming tool, the flange forming device including an inflatable contact element pressurized to define a deformable contact surface, applying, by the deformable contact surface, the ply of material onto the forming tool with a predetermined pressure, wherein the deformable contact surface is moved across the forming tool, and wherein the inflatable contact element is configured to maintain the predetermined pressure as the deformable contact surface transitions from the web surface to the at least one flange surface.

A method for use in ply compaction in forming a composite structure. The method includes positioning a ply of material on a forming tool having a web surface and at least one flange surface extending from the web surface, positioning a chassis at a first location along a length dimension of the forming tool, selectively rotating a flange forming device, that is coupled to the chassis, about a yaw axis based on a relative orientation of the flange forming device to the at least one flange surface, applying, with the flange forming device, the ply of material onto the forming tool, moving the chassis relative to the forming tool to position the chassis at a second location along the length dimension of the forming tool, and repeating the selective rotation and the application steps at the second location.