An apparatus for forming a fiber-bundle-based preform from a preform precursor material includes a process head coupled to a robotic arm. The process head has at least two rollers, a heated region, and a cooled region. A length of preform precursor material is passed through the rollers and fixed at a first end thereof. The process head moves relative to the preform precursor material, following a path defined by the movement of the robotic head. The path comports with the desired shape of the fiber-bundle-based preform. As the process head moves, it softens a portion of the preform precursor material, which then passes through the two rollers, the combination thereof incrementally altering the shape of preform precursor material to that of the preform. After passing the rollers, the newly formed region of preform is cooled to set its shape. The process head continues to move relative to the preform precursor material until the preform is fully formed.

A method and apparatus is disclosed for additive manufacturing and three-dimensional printing, and specifically for extruding tubular objects. A print head extrudes a curable material into a tubular object, while simultaneously curing the tubular object and utilizing the interior of the cured portion of the tubular object for stabilizing and propelling the print head.

The present relates to a composite sandwich structure comprising a central core made of pultruded lightweight yarns and outer composite skin of pultruded reinforcement fiber rovings. It is provided a method of producing a composite sandwich structure comprising providing pultruded lightweight and co-impregnated yarns, and a co-pultruded reinforcement fiber rovings; and guiding the pultruded lightweight yarns to form a central core and the pultruded reinforcement fiber rovings forming an outer composite skin within at least one heated pultrusion die producing a composite sandwich structure.

The present relates to a composite sandwich structure comprising a central core made of pultruded lightweight yarns and outer composite skin of pultruded reinforcement fiber rovings. It is provided a method of producing a composite sandwich structure comprising providing pultruded lightweight and co-impregnated yarns, and a co-pultruded reinforcement fiber rovings; and guiding the pultruded lightweight yarns to form a central core and the pultruded reinforcement fiber rovings forming an outer composite skin within at least one heated pultrusion die producing a composite sandwich structure.

The manufacture of structural elements for aircraft requires the use of complex and costly methods, particularly in the case of parts of elongate overall shape and variable thickness or cross section made of composite material. The disclosure herein proposes to overcome this problem by a method that allows the manufacture of a structural part from a preform made of composite material of simple shape obtained by pultrusion and of one or more reinforcing elements made of composite material and secured by cocuring with the preform to a region of this preform which region is to be reinforced.

The manufacture of structural elements for aircraft requires the use of complex and costly methods, particularly in the case of parts of elongate overall shape and variable thickness or cross section made of composite material. The disclosure herein proposes to overcome this problem by a method that allows the manufacture of a structural part from a preform made of composite material of simple shape obtained by pultrusion and of one or more reinforcing elements made of composite material and secured by cocuring with the preform to a region of this preform which region is to be reinforced.

A head is disclosed for use with a continuous manufacturing system. The head may have a housing configured to receive a matrix and a continuous fiber, and a diverter located at an end of the housing. The diverter may be configured to divert radially outward a matrix-coated fiber. The head may also include a cutoff having an edge configured to press the matrix-coated fiber against the diverter.

Provided is an electrical connection system for a wind turbine blade that allows sharing the current between all conductors, in order to avoid voltage differences between them, avoiding internal sparks between pultruded plates, in a spar cap of the wind turbine blade. A second aspect is a wind turbine which in turn includes the wind turbine blade including the electrical bonding system. A third aspect is a method for electrically connecting conductive caps in a wind turbine blade.

Provided is an electrical connection system for a wind turbine blade that allows sharing the current between all conductors, in order to avoid voltage differences between them, avoiding internal sparks between pultruded plates, in a spar cap of the wind turbine blade. A second aspect is a wind turbine which in turn includes the wind turbine blade including the electrical bonding system. A third aspect is a method for electrically connecting conductive caps in a wind turbine blade.

A die assembly for forming a composite gap filler, including a first die having a first portion which extends along a first central axis of the first die and has a first curved surface which has a radius which changes as the first curved surface extends about the first central axis. A second die a second portion which extends along a second central axis of the second die and has a second curved surface which has a radius which changes as the second curved surface extends about the second central axis. A third die defines a third wall member which extends about the third die and which changes in width dimension wherein with the first die abutting the second die and with the third wall member abutting the first and second dies, a closed gap is formed.