The Boeing Company
AUTOMATED FIBER PLACEMENT ROLLER

Abstract:

A roller for automated fiber placement includes a flexible rim member arranged about a central axis. The flexible rim member has an inner side and an outer side, and the central axis is closer to the inner side than to the outer side. The roller also includes a hub member arranged substantially concentric with the flexible rim member about the central axis. The hub member defines an opening to receive a shaft of an automated fiber placement machine. The roller further includes a plurality of curved interconnect members extending between the hub member and the flexible rim member. Each of the plurality of curved interconnect members is elastically deformable to accommodate deformation of the flexible rim member. The roller also includes one or more roller skin layers coupled to the outer side of the flexible rim member.