A weft insertion device includes a first main nozzle and a second main nozzle that is arranged upstream from the first main nozzle in a weft insertion direction and is configured to function as an auxiliary main nozzle. The first main nozzle is connectable to a first valve device by a first piping. The second main nozzle is connectable to a second valve device by a second piping shorter than the first piping. The weft insertion device is configured to supply compressed air to each main nozzle with each valve device being in an open state over a jet period from a predetermined jet starting timing. In a predetermined initial jet period that begins at the jet starting timing, an operating state of the second valve device is put into a small flow rate state, in which a flow rate smaller than a steady flow rate is supplied.

A machine for fabricating three-dimensional interlaced composite components including a frame, a deposition surface, a first set of two or more warp heads, a second set of two or more of warp heads, and a weft inserter. An interlaced composite component including a first set of two or more warp filaments parallel to each other and a first set of two or more weft filaments parallel to each other. Warp filaments are interlaced with, and bonded to, weft filaments s. Warp filaments and weft filaments are interlaced in at least two different weave patterns. Warp filaments and weft filaments are continuous, and the weave patterns transition from one pattern to another.

A weft insertion device includes a first main nozzle and a second main nozzle that is arranged upstream from the first main nozzle in a weft insertion direction and is configured to function as an auxiliary main nozzle. The first main nozzle is connectable to a first valve device by a first piping. The second main nozzle is connectable to a second valve device by a second piping shorter than the first piping. The weft insertion device is configured to supply compressed air to each main nozzle with each valve device being in an open state over a jet period from a predetermined jet starting timing. In a predetermined initial jet period that begins at the jet starting timing, an operating state of the second valve device is put into a small flow rate state, in which a flow rate smaller than a steady flow rate is supplied.