Reduced Cost Thermoplastic Composite Fabrication by Thermoforming Drapable Pre-pregs

Veelo Technologies will develop an innovative thermoforming process for drapable ìdryî pre-pregs to enhance thermoplastic composite fabrication using heated tooling and/or heated bladders. This Phase I effort focuses on reducing manufacturing time and costs while maintaining high-quality production for aerospace applications. Through modeling and material testing, Veelo will evaluate drapability, formability, and processing feasibility. Veelo will fabricate and assess demonstration parts to validate performance. This research aims to establish a scalable, cost-efficient process, reducing reliance on costly autoclaves and presses, while improving composite manufacturing for defense and commercial aerospace.Ý