SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DEFINING SURFACE CONTOUR OF LAYERED CHARGE OF MATERIAL

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide improved systems and methods for defining a surface contour of a layered charge of material, in which buckles and/or wrinkles do not occur during the deformation of the layered charge.SOLUTION: Forming Systems 20 include: a forming die 30 which includes a forming surface 40 shaped to define a desired surface contour of a layered charge 90; and a fluidly actuated support 50 which includes a support surface 60 that is adjacent to the forming surface 40 and is provided to support the layered charge 90. The forming systems further include: a vacuum bag 70 that at least partially defines an enclosed volume 72; and a vacuum source 80 configured to selectively apply a vacuum to the enclosed volume 72. The methods include: providing the layered charge 90 on the forming surface 40 and on the support surface 60; covering the layered charge 90 with the vacuum bag 70 to define the enclosed volume 72; applying the vacuum to the enclosed volume 72; compressing the fluidly actuated support 50; translating the support surface 60; and deforming the layered charge 90 to define the desired surface contour. 【課題】層状体を変形する際に発生する、座屈／シワの生じない、材料の層状体の表面輪郭を規定するための改良されたシステム及び方法の提供。【解決手段】層状体９０の所望の表面輪郭を規定する形状の成形面４０を含む成形ダイ３０と、成形面４０に隣接するとともに、層状体９０を支持するように配置された支持面６０を含む流体作動支持部５０とを含み、密閉空間７２を少なくとも部分的に規定する真空バッグ７０と、密閉空間７２に対して、選択的に真空を印加するように構成された真空源８０とを更に含み、層状体９０を、成形面４０と支持面６０とに配置することと、層状体９０を真空バッグ７０で被覆することにより、密閉空間７２を画定すること、密閉空間７２に対して真空を印加すること、流体作動支持部５０を圧縮すること、支持面６０を並進させること、さらに、層状体９０を変形させて、所望の表面輪郭を規定することを含む成形システム２０。【選択図】図３