The Boeing Company
Composite part resin infusion with dynamic thickness control

Abstract:

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating composite parts. One embodiment is a method of fabricating a composite part. The method includes providing a preform on a tool mandrel, positioning sensors around the preform according to a target shape of the composite part, and sealing the preform with a vacuum bag to form a chamber. The method also includes applying temperature and pressure to the chamber to infuse a resin into the preform to create a composite preform undergoing infusion, monitoring a thickness of the composite preform prior to completing cure, and adjusting at least one of the temperature and the pressure prior to completing cure based on the thickness.