Fiber Placement Process Change Streamlining

"Fiber placement is a relatively new composite fabrication process with increasing use on military and commercial programs. The materials, equipment, and process are continuously evolving and while these changes provide productivity and quality benefitsthey also present the risk for unintended problems. These changes are implemented in different ways and at different times across the industry. The risk issues are addressed as they arise with ad hoc test programs specific to each development activity.Foster-Miller has assembled a well-qualified team to address these issues. Our team includes the industry leader in production of fiber-placed composite structures, Alliant Techsystems. Two consultants, Mr. Dee Gill and Dr. Jon Sticklen, will provideexpertise in the areas of fiber placement technology and expert systems development, respectively. We will develop a structured methodology for validating changes in the process attributes based on our team's in-depth understanding of fiber placementtechnology and composite structures. This methodology will be deployed to industry in the form of an expert system. This will provide the benefits of our systematic approach in a unambiguous and uniform way. (P-020538) This program will result in the establishment of a standardized methodology for making improvements to fiber placement equipment, materials, and processes. This will provide benefits to the Navy in current programs, such as V-2