According to one implementation, a composite material forming jig includes molds and a tilting structure. The molds are developable for laminating fiber sheets, after or before impregnated with a resin, in a developed state where the molds are developed. At least one mold of the molds is capable of being inclined relatively to another mold of the molds so that the laminated fiber sheets are shaped. The tilting structure is adapted to develop the molds when the fiber sheets are laminated and incline the at least one mold when the laminated fiber sheets are shaped.

A flexible punch and die are used to form a flat composite laminate charge into a stiffener having a desired cross sectional shape. A desired contour is formed in the stiffener by bending the punch and die. Ply wrinkling is avoided during contouring by maintaining those portions of the stiffener subject to wrinkling in tension as the contouring is being performed. Bridging of the plies during the contouring process is avoided by first contouring those sections of the stiffener that are subject to wrinkling, and then contouring the remaining sections of the stiffener.

A method is described for manufacturing a structural element in composite material extending along a straight or curvilinear longitudinal direction, having a Z-shaped cross section and comprising, in its final configuration, a central web and two flanges extending at a given final angle from opposite end portions of the web in respective directions opposite to one another; the method including the steps of: arranging a plurality of layers of composite material on a shaped portion of a forming mold; laminating the layers on the shaped portion so that the web is arranged, at least partially, in its final configuration, that a first flange is arranged in its final configuration at the final angle with respect to the portion of the web arranged in its final configuration, and that a second flange is arranged in its initial configuration at an initial angle distinct from, and greater than, said final angle with respect to the portion of the web arranged in its final configuration; moving a movable portion of the forming mold, which is movable with respect to a fixed portion of the forming mold, from a rest position to a bending position; displacing the second flange from the initial configuration into a final configuration in which it is at said final angle with respect to the portion of the web arranged in its final configuration; the step d) of displacing being carried out by means of the step c) of moving.

A method for shaping a composite material, the method comprising positioning a composite system in a press tool, the press tool comprising a male mold and a corresponding female mold separated by a gap, wherein the male mold and the female mold each independently have a non-planar molding surface, compressing the composite system between the male mold and the female mold by closing the gap between the male mold and the female mold; and maintaining the male mold and the female mold in a closed position until the viscosity of the composite system reaches a level sufficient to maintain a molded shape.

A pressing member is configured to press a portion-to-be-pressed of a continuous-fiber sheet against a recessed surface of a first mold in a state where the continuous-fiber sheet is placed between the first mold and a second mold. A pulling member is configured to bring the continuous-fiber sheet into close contact with the main surface and the recessed surface by pulling a portion of the continuous-fiber sheet located on an outer peripheral side of the portion-to-be-pressed after the pressing member presses the portion-to-be-pressed against the recessed surface.

A production method for a fiber-reinforced plastic, in which a preform made of a reinforcing fiber substrate and having a three-dimensional shape and an inner mold operatable in a lateral direction different from an up-down direction are disposed in a mold cavity formed by an upper mold and a lower mold, and a state in which a plate thickness of the preform has been made greater than the thickness of a molded article to be obtained is brought about, and a matrix resin is injected and impregnated into the preform, and, after that, at least one of the upper mold and the lower mold is operated toward the other and the inner mold is operated in the lateral direction to pressurize the preform, whereby the thickness of the preform is controlled so as to be equal to a predetermined product's thickness, and subsequently the matrix resin is hardened by heating to obtain the molded article, and a production apparatus for a fiber-reinforced plastic for use in the production method.

An apparatus for consolidating fiber-reinforced resin material comprises a housing, comprising a barrel and a receptacle. The receptacle comprises a base, a lid, positionable relative to the base and relative to the barrel such that the housing is in an open state or a closed state, and a de-gassing port. The apparatus comprises a gasket that is in contact with the lid, the base, and the barrel when the housing is in the closed state. The apparatus comprises a piston, movable between a retracted position, in which the piston, in its entirety, is in the barrel, and an extended position, in which a portion of the piston is in the receptacle and another portion of the piston is in the barrel. The apparatus comprises a seal, which is in contact with the piston and the barrel, and a drive system, configured to control movement of the piston.

Methods and devices of fabricating a stringer for a vehicle. The stringer can be constructed from two charges that are formed together into the stringer. During fabrication, the charges are placed over support members with the ends of each charge extending over a die cavity. The charges are secured and a punch die forces the first ends into the die cavity forming blades of the stringer. The charges are secured thus tensioning the charges during the punch process.

Methods and devices of fabricating a stringer for a vehicle. The stringer can be constructed from two charges that are formed together into the stringer. During fabricating, the ends of the charges can be formed in a die cavity. When the ends are misaligned in the die cavity, one of the charges can be moved in the die cavity to align the ends. The device used for fabricating the charges can include a punch with separate punch plates that move the ends of the charges into the die cavity. The punch plates can be separately moved to adjust the position of the charges and align the ends.

A method for making a molded composite of a prepreg sheet and a molding material includes steps of: a) providing a mold assembly, b) disposing the molding material, c) placing the prepreg sheet, d) combining a female mold and a male mold of the mold assembly, and e) operating an actuating member to press the molding material against the prepreg sheet.