General Electric Company
Methods and assemblies for forming features in composite components

Abstract:

Various methods and assemblies are provided for producing composite components having formed in features. For example, a method may comprise depositing a composite material on a base tool; bringing a feature forming tool into contact with the composite material; and processing the composite material with the feature forming tool in contact with the composite material. The processed composite material forms a green state composite component. The feature forming tool comprises a sheet having one or more elements for interacting with one or more elements of the base tool to form one or more features of the composite component. In some embodiments, the method also may comprise sealing a bag around the feature forming tool and the composite material after bringing the tool into contact with the composite material and removing the bag and the feature forming tool from the green state composite component after processing.