METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PREFORM

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a preform manufacturing method capable of manufacturing a preform excellent in dimensional precision and having excellent quality not causing the undulation, wrinkles or the like of reinforcing fibers and capable of also realizing the enhancement of productivity such as the improvement of workability, the shortening of a tact time, or the like, and an apparatus for the method. SOLUTION: This preform manufacturing method for manufacturing a fiber reinforced plastic structure has a base material preparing process (1) for cutting a base material comprising reinforcing fibers into a predetermined shape, a base material holding process for holding the portion, which becomes a planar portion when the preform is molded, of the prepared base material, a pressing/shaping process (3) for moving a plurality of partial shaping means, which are used for forming a part of the cross-sectional shape of the preform, to the portion other than the holded portion of the base material to press and shape that portion so as to form the same into the shape of the preform to be molded, a pressing/heating process (4) for pressing and heating the base material having a predetermined shape to fix the same and a trimming process (5) for trimming the end parts of the thermally fixed base material to mold the preform having a final shape. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI