3D thermoplastic composite pultrusion system and method
A 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system, comprises one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines; a CNC control system controlling the one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to form a heated prepreg thermoplastic composite material into a 3D thermoplastic composite pultrusion, the one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines include a plurality of motion control CNC rotational motors and CNC actuators operatively coupled to the motion control CNC rotational motors, a flexible chilled band shapeable by the CNC actuators to form the heated prepreg thermoplastic composite material into the thermoplastic composite pultrusion, and bearings that the motion control CNC rotational motors pivot the actuators about and hold the actuators in position during a consolidation process.
1. A 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system, comprising:
at least a first set, second set, and third set of 3D thermoplastic forming machines,
the first set including a plurality of motion control CNC rotational motors and CNC actuators operatively coupled to the motion control CNC rotational motors, a flexible heated band connected to the CNC actuators to preform and heat a prepreg thermoplastic composite material, and bearings that the motion control CNC rotational motors pivot the actuators about and hold the actuators in position;
the second set located downstream of the first set and including a plurality of motion control CNC rotational motors and CNC actuators operatively coupled to the motion control CNC rotational motors, a flexible heated band connected to the CNC actuators to form and heat the prepreg thermoplastic composite material from the first set, and bearings that the motion control CNC rotational motors pivot the actuators about and hold the actuators in position;
the third set located downstream of the second set and including a plurality of motion control CNC rotational motors and CNC actuators operatively coupled to the motion control CNC rotational motors, a flexible chilled band connected to the CNC actuators to form the heated prepreg thermoplastic composite material from the second set into the thermoplastic composite pultrusion, and bearings that the motion control CNC rotational motors pivot the actuators about and hold the actuators in position;
a CNC control system controlling at least the first set, the second set, and the third set of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to form the prepreg thermoplastic composite material, the CNC control system including a 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system computer system having a computer readable medium configured to store executable programmed modules; a processor communicatively coupled with the computer readable medium configured to execute programmed modules stored therein; one or more computer programmed module elements is stored in the computer readable medium and configured to be executed by the processor, wherein the one or more computer programmed module elements is configured to perform the following for the prepreg thermoplastic composite material:
preform and heat the prepreg thermoplastic composite material with the first set of 3D thermoplastic forming machines;
form and heat the prepreg thermoplastic composite material from the first set with the second set of 3D thermoplastic forming machines;
form the heated prepreg thermoplastic composite material from the second set into the thermoplastic composite pultrusion with the flexible chilled band of the third set of 3D thermoplastic forming machines.
2. The 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the flexible bands include a band thickness that varies, with a thinner band thickness for lesser radius shape and thicker band thickness for greater radius shaper.
3. The 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system of claim 1 , further including spaced attachment points where the CNC actuators are attached to one or more of the flexible bands, and spacing between attachment points varies.
4. The 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more of the flexible bands include a pre-bend therein to form a sharp corner.
5. The 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system of claim 1 , wherein the 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system accommodates changes in camber, chord, and span, relative to a neutral axis, as the thermoplastic composite pultrusion exits one or more of the flexible bands.