Features:

• Fabric placed on layup table
• Ultrasonic knife used to cut ply shape
• Pick and place orients ply on part
• Bladder compactors ensure bonding

Situation:

A major aircraft OEM has a qualified part that was designed for manual layup fabrication using prepreg fabrics. Expected rates were low single units per month.

Problem:

New production requirements increase quantities 4-6 fold and existing manual fabrication work cells cannot meet production rates.

Implication:

To meet contract requirements, OEM must significantly increase staff and manual manufacturing capacity increasing unit costs above budgeted costs.

Solution:

Accudyne Systems designed a machine that places fabric on a table, then an untrasonic knife cuts the fabric into the correct shape. A vacuum chuck picks up the ply, orients it and places it onto a tool. The ply is bladder compacted onto the tool to ensure consolidation and ply bonding.