The Boeing Company
Method and apparatus for continuously fabricating a composite sandwich structure

Abstract:

A method for continuously fabricating a composite sandwich structure includes the steps of: (1) moving a laminate, substantially continuously, through a preheating zone, wherein the laminate includes a first face sheet, a second face sheet and a core sandwiched between the first face sheet and the second face sheet; (2) preheating the laminate to a preforming temperature above a glass transition temperature of the laminate and below or equal to a crystalline melt temperature of the laminate as the laminate is being moved through the preheating zone; (3) moving the laminate, substantially continuously, through a consolidation zone; and (4) consolidating the laminate as the laminate is being moved through the consolidation zone to form a continuous length of the composite sandwich structure.