The Boeing Company
Thermoplastic structures

Abstract:

A method of forming a consolidated structure. The method comprises placing a thermoplastic material onto a forming tool to form a structure; positioning the structure within a tool; and consolidating the structure to form the consolidated structure. The tool has a number of die liners configured to generate heat in response to a magnetic field. Consolidating comprises applying a magnetic field to the number of die liners to heat the structure to a consolidation temperature.