METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR COMPOSITE MOLDING

Organization Name

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor(s)

Gary Latham of South Lyon MI (US)

Jeffrey G. Price of Huntersville NC (US)

Andrew Thomas Cunningham of Royal Oak MI (US)

Thomas Curtis of Royal Oak MI (US)

Adam Golembeski of Charlotte NC (US)

Patrick J Eding of Fremont MI (US)

METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR COMPOSITE MOLDING - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18181684 titled 'METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR COMPOSITE MOLDING

Simplified Explanation: The patent application describes a method and system for composite molding, involving additively manufacturing a mold shell with a part forming cavity, filling the mold shell with a strengthening agent, hardening the agent to form a mold, laying-up a composite material on the cavity, and curing the mold to create a composite part.

The method involves additively manufacturing a mold shell with a part forming cavity.
The mold shell is filled with a strengthening agent to reinforce the mold.
The strengthening agent is hardened to form a durable mold.
A composite material is layered on the part forming cavity of the mold.
The mold is then cured to produce a composite part.

Potential Applications: 1. Aerospace industry for manufacturing lightweight and strong composite parts. 2. Automotive industry for producing durable and customized components. 3. Construction sector for creating complex and resilient structures.

Problems Solved: 1. Simplifies the process of composite molding. 2. Enhances the strength and durability of composite parts. 3. Allows for the creation of intricate shapes and designs.

Benefits: 1. Improved efficiency in composite molding processes. 2. Increased strength and durability of composite parts. 3. Enables the production of complex and customized components.

Commercial Applications: The technology can be utilized in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and construction for manufacturing lightweight, strong, and customized composite parts, leading to enhanced product performance and design flexibility.

Questions about Composite Molding: 1. How does the method of additively manufacturing the mold shell contribute to the efficiency of the composite molding process? 2. What are the advantages of using a strengthening agent in the mold shell for composite molding applications?

Original Abstract Submitted

A method and system for composite molding, and the method includes additively manufacturing a mold shell that includes a part forming cavity. The method includes filling at least a portion of the mold shell with a strengthening agent. The method includes hardening the strengthening agent to form a mold, and laying-up a composite material on the part forming cavity. The method includes curing the mold to form a composite part.