An apparatus for roll forming thermoplastic composites comprises a plurality of thermoplastic composite material spools, a plurality of thermoplastic composite material rollers, a plurality of sheet metal spools, a plurality of welding rollers, an oven, a forming roller, a pair of pinch rollers. The thermoplastic composite material spools retain plies of thermoplastic composite material. The plies flow through the thermoplastic composite material rollers to form a layup. The sheet metal spools retain metal sheets. The metal sheets and the layup flow through the welding rollers to form a metal composite material laminate. The oven heats the metal composite material laminate. The forming roller imparts a curvature to the metal composite material laminate. The pinch rollers receive the metal composite material laminate from the forming roller, pull the metal composite material laminate, and output the metal composite material laminate in a heated and compressed state.

An apparatus for roll forming thermoplastic composites comprises a plurality of thermoplastic composite material spools, a plurality of thermoplastic composite material rollers, a plurality of sheet metal spools, a plurality of welding rollers, an oven, a forming roller, a pair of pinch rollers. The thermoplastic composite material spools retain plies of thermoplastic composite material. The plies flow through the thermoplastic composite material rollers to form a layup. The sheet metal spools retain metal sheets. The metal sheets and the layup flow through the welding rollers to form a metal composite material laminate. The oven heats the metal composite material laminate. The forming roller imparts a curvature to the metal composite material laminate. The pinch rollers receive the metal composite material laminate from the forming roller, pull the metal composite material laminate, and output the metal composite material laminate in a heated and compressed state.

A method for thermoforming an article includes extruding a sheet of material, conditioning the sheet with a roller, thermoforming the sheet to provide a web, and cutting the web to provide the article.

A method for thermoforming an article includes extruding a sheet of material, conditioning the sheet with a roller, thermoforming the sheet to provide a web, and cutting the web to provide the article.