Gkn Aerospace Services Limited

Jonathan Paul Moram

Giovanni Antonio Marengo

Marcus Jason Gawn

Gary Wiles

David James Maclean

Ben Ralfs

Paul Michael Roberts

Method forming a composite structure () comprising a main body and a flange. The composite structure is manufactured by laying-up a preform () on a mold (). The preform () does not have the first and second bends and comprises a first part which corresponds to the main body of the composite structure and a second part which corresponds to the flange of the composite structure. The second part of the (preform () has a proximal portion which corresponds to the wall portion of the flange and a distal portion which corresponds to the lip portion of the flange. The preform () comprises a plurality of plies and uni-directional ply material extends from the first part of the preform () to the distal portion of the second part of the preform (). The flange is formed by advancing movable portion(s) () of the moldto form the proximal portion of the second part of the preform () to create the first bend () and by forming the distal portion of the second part of the preform () around the advancing movable portion(s) () of the mold () to create the second bend (). The presence of the two bends () ensures that the ply material () is kept in tension during the forming operation.

Method of forming a composite structure comprising a flange

A forming tool () for and a method of making a three dimensional composite component using double diaphragm forming. The forming tool () comprises a forming side having two or more regions of changing profile and one or more through holes associated with each region, the through holes exit on the forming side and are connectable to one or more vacuum sources such that vacuum can be selectively and discretely applied to each region.

Diaphragm forming

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East Cowes, United Kingdom

Jonathan Paul Moram