Cutting Table with Cavity and Template for 3D-Woven Fibrous Preforms
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The manual cutting of fibrous preforms with different contour shapes interconnected by a debonding zone is prone to inaccuracies, reproducibility issues, and fiber loss, making it difficult to achieve precise cutting without deformation or operator risk.
Innovation Solution
A cutting table with a rotary plate, martyr plates, and a cutting template that applies compacting pressure, allowing for precise cutting of fibrous preforms with different shapes by positioning one part flat on the plate, inserting martyr plates between parts, and using a cutting template with indexing fingers and beveled edges to facilitate accurate cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual cutting is used for fibrous preforms with different contour shapes, then flexibility in handling different shapes is achieved, but cutting precision and reproducibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting device is divided into separate modular components: a base plate with imprint for positioning, martyr plates for support, and interchangeable cutting templates for different contour shapes. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall precision and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate includes an imprint that copies the contour of the fibrous preform, and cutting templates are designed as precise copies of the desired final contours. These copies enable accurate reproduction of complex shapes while maintaining cutting precision through the standardized positioning interface.
2Ease of operation
If manual cutting is used for fibrous preforms, then operator flexibility is maintained, but fiber loss and deformation increase
Solution Approach 1:
Martyr plates are introduced as intermediary elements between the cutting tool and the fibrous preform. These plates provide a stable support surface and protective interface that prevents direct contact between the cutting tool and fibers, thereby reducing fiber loss and deformation while maintaining operator control.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting process utilizes controlled application of compacting pressure as a key parameter change. By applying pressure through the cutting template and martyr plates, the fibrous preform is compacted to reduce fiber displacement and loss during cutting, while the operator maintains flexibility in adjusting pressure levels.
3Reliability
If cutting is performed without compacting pressure, then operator risk is reduced, but cutting precision and fiber retention deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting template and martyr plates serve as intermediary elements that enable the application of compacting pressure in a controlled and distributed manner. This intermediary system protects the operator by providing mechanical advantage and control, while simultaneously improving cutting precision and fiber retention through uniform pressure application.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting device incorporates dynamic elements including a vertically movable cylinder for applying compacting pressure and a rotatable plate for positioning. These dynamic components allow the operator to adjust pressure and positioning in real-time, optimizing both safety and cutting precision for each specific operation.
Data Source
Figure 1A~3
Figure 4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention concerns a cutting table (100) for cutting a fibrous preform obtained by three-dimensional weaving and comprising two portions that are linked together by at least one separating area and that have contours of different shapes, the cutting table comprising a plate (104) provided with a cavity (108) intended to receive, flat, one of the portions of the preform to be cut, sacrificial plates (110) intended to be interposed between the portions of the preform to be cut and to be secured to the plate, at least one cutting template (114) intended to be applied to the portion of the fibrous preform that is not positioned in the cavity, and means (118) for applying a compacting pressure to the cutting template. The invention also concerns a method for cutting a fibrous preform using such a cutting table.