CPC B29C 70/46 (2013.01) [B29C 70/541 (2013.01); B29C 70/68 (2013.01); B29C 70/681 (2013.01)] | 8 Claims |
1. A method of manufacturing a composite part including a stiffener, the method comprising:
providing a bottom mold having at least one elongated recess in a molding surface of the bottom mold;
draping a flat laminate onto the bottom mold;
driving a feeder unit onto the laminate, wherein the feeder unit pushes a portion of the laminate into the at least one elongated recess;
pressing a top mold onto the laminate; and
hardening the laminate, wherein the bottom mold forms a first surface of the composite part, the at least one elongated recess forms a stiffener in the composite part, and the top mold forms a second surface of the composite part opposite to the first surface, wherein the molding surface is curved in at least one of:
a radial direction extending from a center of the molding surface, such that the molding surface forms a circular shape and the at least one elongated recess extends from the center of the molding surface; and
a vertical direction, such that the molding surface bends downward.
|