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.

A composite material forming device includes a pressurizing unit, heating unit, a movement mechanism, and a control unit. The device processes a composite material in which reinforced fibers have been impregnated with a thermosetting resin from a softened state or semi-cured state into a cured state while forming the composite material into a prescribed size and prescribed shape. The pressurizing unit applies pressure to a prescribed region of the composite material. The heating unit applies a magnetic field to the prescribed region of the composite material to which pressure has been applied by the pressurizing unit, thereby heating a prescribed region of the composite material. The movement mechanism causes the pressurization region and heating region to synchronously move by simultaneously changing the position of a first member relative to the composite material and the position of the heating unit relative to the composite material.

A first tooling die and a second tooling die are movable with respect to each other. The first tooling die and the second tooling die form a die cavity. The first tooling die and the second tooling die comprise a plurality of stacked metal sheets. A plurality of air gaps is defined between adjacent stacked metal sheets. A first smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and connected to the first tooling die. The first smart susceptor material has a first Curie temperature. A second smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and associated with the second tooling die. The second smart susceptor material has a second Curie temperature lower than the first Curie temperature. A flexible membrane is between the second tooling die and the first smart susceptor material. The flexible membrane is configured to receive pressure.

A method of curing a part in a mold using induction heated tooling is provided. In preferred embodiments, the method comprises placing a material that may be cured with pressure and heat in tooling made from a non-metallic material wherein the tooling includes a mold cavity that forms the part. Creating an electro-magnetic field across the tooling using induction coils. Applying pressure to the tooling and heating a metallic material contained in channels formed in the tooling around the mold cavity of the part.

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.

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.

A heating device to heat a molding face, particularly a large molding face. The heating device includes a metal sheet having a ferromagnetic layer, and a part formed into a shape that defines the molding face and a forming plane. A base of the heating device supports the metal sheet. An inductor of the heating device provides the induction heating of the metal sheet.

A method of repairing a polymeric composite workpiece. The method comprises identifying a localized area of the polymeric composite workpiece having a defect. A plurality of three dimensional interface structures are aligned adjacent at least a portion of the localized area. The method includes applying a polymeric composite patch to the localized area such that the interface structures are disposed between the polymeric composite workpiece and the polymeric composite patch. An alternating electromagnetic field may be introduced to selectively induce localized heating of the interface structures. The localized heating softens regions of the polymeric composite workpiece and the polymeric composite patch adjacent the interface structures, causing the interface structures to penetrate a distance into the respective polymeric composite workpiece and the polymeric composite patch.

A polymer composition capable of being additively manufactured includes a polymer matrix and a magnetically receptive additive. The polymer composition may be additively manufactured or extruded to form a tool which may be used to form a composite part.

An induction heated tool system for receiving and heating polymer-fiber components from a starting temperature to a target temperature includes a tool part having a receiving cutout, the tool part formed from a thermally dimensionally stable material so it has a coefficient of thermal longitudinal expansion less than 10?10.sup.?6 K.sup.?1, or less than 5?10.sup.?6 K.sup.?1, or less than 4?10.sup.?6 K.sup.?1 in the plane of the largest dimension of the receiving cutout, at temperatures between the starting and target temperatures. A receiving cutout for receiving a polymer-fiber component is in the tool part, the receiving cutout delimited by a receiving surface portion so a polymer-fiber component received in the receiving cutout can lie against the receiving surface portion. A susceptor element includes a ferromagnetic material with a first Curie temperature. The susceptor element is on a surface portion of the tool part outside the receiving cutout and the receiving surface portion.