Automating the manufacturing process associated with composite components from prepreg presents new engineering challenges. To design, implement and operate machinery to handle and lay-up prepreg sheet material requires a clear understanding of the processes involved. Manipulation of sheet material is an integral part of the lay-up procedure. This paper presents the main automation issues concerning the production processes and defines a mathematical model for predicting the shape of prepreg sheets for the purposes of manipulation. This provides an aid towards the control of shape during the process of lay-up. Critical mould parameters, which determine prepreg sheet shape, are presented. Lay-up trajectories for a multi-arm robotic system have been derived, utilizing the models formulated. Practical trials with an existing multi-arm robotic system have proved satisfactory control of the process.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.