The Boeing Company
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FABRICATION OF COMPOSITE TOOLING

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for forming a tool. A film is applied to a reference part. A vacuum is applied to cause the film to conform to a surface of the reference part such that an adhesive side of the film faces outward from the reference part and a release side of the film conforms to and contacts the reference part. A plurality of composite plates is adhered to the adhesive side of the film over a plurality of flat portions of the reference part. An adhesive material is applied to fill in a plurality of gaps between the plurality of composite plates. The adhesive material is cured to form the tool.