Automated fiber placement with course trajectory compensation
First Claim
1. A system for determining temperature-compensated trajectories for the application of courses of tows of composite material to a curved surface using an automated fiber placement machine, the system comprising:
- a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature;
a data repository that stores data related to the shape and dimensions of the surface and that stores an indication of a steering limitation, the steering limitation approximately corresponding to a maximum amount a tow can bend without incurring a flawing event in a first state; and
a computing system comprising one or more computing devices, the computing system adapted to receive data from the data repository and the temperature sensor, the computing system programmed to;
adjust the steering limitation at least partly based on the detected temperature to obtain a temperature compensated steering limitation, the temperature compensated steering limitation approximately corresponding to a maximum amount a tow can bend without incurring a flawing event in a second state;
determine a plurality of course trajectories for the application of the tows to the curved surface, each of the course trajectories including one or more tow trajectories;
identify, from among the tow trajectories, a violating tow trajectory in which the application of the tow to the curved surface would bend the tow more than the temperature compensated steering limitation; and
adjust the violating tow trajectory to obtain an adjusted tow trajectory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various automated fiber placement systems and methods are disclosed. The system can determine steerable paths for the application of a composite material over highly contoured surfaces. The system can determine when a course trajectory would violate a steering limitation (e.g., a maximum bendability of the composite material) and can adjust the trajectory to avoid such violations. The adjustment can create gaps between adjacent courses, which can have a generally flared peripheral shape. The system can fill such gaps with subsequent courses of the composite material. Thus, the system can automatically apply composite material to highly contoured surfaces while also avoiding violation of the steering limitations.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for determining temperature-compensated trajectories for the application of courses of tows of composite material to a curved surface using an automated fiber placement machine, the system comprising:
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a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature; a data repository that stores data related to the shape and dimensions of the surface and that stores an indication of a steering limitation, the steering limitation approximately corresponding to a maximum amount a tow can bend without incurring a flawing event in a first state; and a computing system comprising one or more computing devices, the computing system adapted to receive data from the data repository and the temperature sensor, the computing system programmed to; adjust the steering limitation at least partly based on the detected temperature to obtain a temperature compensated steering limitation, the temperature compensated steering limitation approximately corresponding to a maximum amount a tow can bend without incurring a flawing event in a second state; determine a plurality of course trajectories for the application of the tows to the curved surface, each of the course trajectories including one or more tow trajectories; identify, from among the tow trajectories, a violating tow trajectory in which the application of the tow to the curved surface would bend the tow more than the temperature compensated steering limitation; and adjust the violating tow trajectory to obtain an adjusted tow trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer implemented method of providing temperature-compensated control of an automated fiber placement machine that is configured to apply a plurality of layers of composite material to a form, each layer including a plurality of courses, each course including a plurality of tows, the method comprising, under the control of one or more electronic processors:
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receiving a steering limitation that approximately corresponds to a maximum amount a tow can bend without incurring a flawing event; receiving temperature data; adjusting the steering limitation at least partly based on the temperature data to obtain a temperature compensated steering limitation; determining a plurality of course trajectories over the form; identifying, among the plurality of course trajectories, a violating course trajectory, the violating course trajectory comprising a tow that would violate the temperature compensated steering limitation; and adjusting the violating course trajectory to obtain an adjusted course trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification