Fibre placement tool
A fiber placement tool comprising a plurality of tool segments, each tool segment having an outer surface defining a predetermined profile, each tool segment being removably mounted on at least one elongate shaft.
1. A method of manufacturing a fibre placement tool, comprising the steps of:
providing at least one elongate shaft;
providing a plurality of removable and reusable tool segments;
forming an outer surface defining a predetermined profile on each of said plurality of reusable tool segments;
forming at least one through hole extending through each of said plurality of reusable tool segments along a longitudinal axis thereof;
passing said at least one elongate shaft through said at least one through hole of each of said plurality of reusable tool segments;
removing and reusing any one of said plurality of reusable tool segments as needed, said removed tool segment being reused in accordance with the preceding method steps, and
providing a means for securing the plurality of reusable tool segments on said at least one elongate shaft.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of forming a cross section of said at least one through hole to correspond to the cross section of the at least one elongate shaft.
3. A method of manufacturing a fibre placement tool, comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of elongate shafts;
providing a plurality of removable and reusable tool segments;
forming an outer surface defining a predetermined profile on each of said plurality of reusable tool segments;
forming at least one through hole extending through each of said plurality of reusable tool segments along a longitudinal axis thereof; and,
passing said at least one elongate shaft through said at least one through hole.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing each tool segment with at least one reinforcing rib.
5. A method of manufacturing a fibre placement tool, comprising the steps of:
providing at least one elongate shaft;
providing a plurality of removable and reusable tool segments;
forming an outer surface defining a predetermined profile on each of said plurality of reusable tool segments;
forming at least one through hole extending through each of said plurality of reusable tool segments along a longitudinal axis thereof;
passing said at least one elongate shaft through said at least one through hole; and,
providing a longitudinal ridge on an outer surface of said at least one longitudinal shaft.
6. A method of manufacturing a fibre placement tool, comprising the steps of:
providing at least one elongate shaft;
providing a plurality of removable and reusable tool segments;
forming an outer surface defining a predetermined profile on each of said plurality of reusable tool segments;
forming at least one through hole extending through each of said plurality of reusable tool segments along a longitudinal axis thereof;
passing said at least one elongate shaft through said at least one through hole; and
providing a longitudinal slot dimensioned and configured to receive said longitudinal ridge on each of said plurality of reusable tool segments.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of removing and reusing any one of said plurality of removable and reusable tool segments.