초록 ▼

Configurable layup tooling used to fabricate reinforced composite parts having a common shape but varying features are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a common tool body. A first mandrel is received by the common tool body to form at least a first portion of a common

Configurable layup tooling used to fabricate reinforced composite parts having a common shape but varying features are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a common tool body. A first mandrel is received by the common tool body to form at least a first portion of a common shape and a first profile of a first part to be formed via the common tool body. A second mandrel is received by the common tool body to form the first portion of the common shape and a second profile of a second part that is different from the first part.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus comprising: a common tool body having an opening and an upper surface adjacent the opening; anda first mandrel to be received in the opening of the common tool body, the first mandrel to form a first support having a first flange, the first mandrel and the common tool body to define

1. An apparatus comprising: a common tool body having an opening and an upper surface adjacent the opening; anda first mandrel to be received in the opening of the common tool body, the first mandrel to form a first support having a first flange, the first mandrel and the common tool body to define a first wall extending from the first flange, and a first face of the first mandrel to define a second wall of the first support adjacent the first wall and spaced from the first flange such that the first and second walls define a first cavity of the first support, the first face of the first mandrel to form a first feature of the second wall; anda second mandrel to be received in the opening of the common tool body, the second mandrel to form a second support having a second flange, the second mandrel and the common tool body to define a third wall extending from the second flange, and a second face of the second mandrel to define a fourth wall of the second support adjacent the third wall and spaced from the second flange such that the third and fourth walls define a second cavity of the second support, the second face of the second mandrel to form a second feature of the fourth wall different than the first feature of the second wall. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an insert to be received within the common tool body to form at least a portion of the first and third walls of the respective first and second supports. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the insert includes a second opening to receive each of the first and second mandrels. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first flange is substantially similar to the second flange and the first wall is substantially similar to the third wall. 5. An apparatus comprising: a common tool body having a substantially planar upper surface and a cavity; anda first mandrel to be provided in the cavity, the common tool body and the first mandrel to form a support structure of a first antenna assembly having a flange portion and a recess defined by a wall projecting from the flange portion and a bottom surface enclosing an end of the wall, the upper surface of the common tool body to define the flange portion of the support structure, and an inner surface of the cavity between the first mandrel and the upper surface of the common tool body to define the wall of the support structure, the first mandrel having a face to define the bottom surface enclosing the end of the wall, the first mandrel having a first projection relative to the face and oriented toward the bottom surface to define first aperture in the bottom surface having a shape complementary to a shape of the first projection, the support structure and the first mandrel to be removed from the common tool body after fabrication of the support structure. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the recess comprises a cylindrical recess and the wall comprises a cylindrical wall. 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cavity of the common tool body is configured to receive an insert during fabrication of the support structure. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the insert has a shape and dimensional profile substantially similar to a shape and dimensional profile of a first radome. 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein an end of the insert forms a shoulder that defines an offset to accommodate a bond line when the first radome is attached to the first support structure during the assembly of the antenna assembly. 10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the support structure is composed of fiber-reinforced plies that are successively laid up over the upper surface of the common tool body, the face of the first mandrel and the inner surface of the cavity. 11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the face of the first mandrel is spaced from the upper surface of the common tool body when the first mandrel is positioned within the cavity. 12. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a second mandrel to be provided in the cavity of the common tool body to form a second support structure of a second antenna assembly having a second flange portion and a second recess defined by a second wall projecting from the second flange portion and a second bottom surface enclosing an end of the second wall, the upper surface of the common tool body defines the second flange portion of the second support structure, and the inner surface of the cavity between the second mandrel and the upper surface of the common tool body to define the wall of the second support structure, the second mandrel having a second face to define the second bottom surface enclosing the end of the second wall, the second mandrel having a second projection projecting relative to the second face and oriented toward the second bottom surface to define a second aperture in the second bottom surface having a shape complementary to a shape of the second projection, the second aperture being different than the first aperture of the first mandrel, the second mandrel to be removed from the common tool body after fabrication of the second support structure. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the common tool body is configured to enable attachment of the second support structure to a second radome after fabrication of the second support structure and removal of the second mandrel from the cavity, the second flange of the second support structure to be positioned on the upper surface of the common tool body and the second wall to be positioned in the cavity between the second radome and the upper surface to attach the second support structure to the second radome. 14. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the common tool body is configured to enable attachment of the first support structure to a first radome, the cavity configured to receive the first radome after fabrication of the support structure and the removal of the first mandrel from the cavity, the flange portion of the support structure to be positioned on the upper surface of the common tool body and the wall to be positioned in the cavity between the first radome and the upper surface to attach the support structure to the first radome. 15. An apparatus comprising: a common tool body to form a common profile portion of a first support structure for use with a first assembly and a second support structure for use with a second assembly;a first mandrel to be positioned in a cavity of the common tool body to define a first non-common profile portion of the first support structure, an upper surface of the common tool body and an area between the upper surface and a first face of the first mandrel to define the common profile portion of the first support structure and the first face of the first mandrel to define the first non-common profile portion, the first face includes a first projection that defines a first aperture in the first non-common profile portion having a shape corresponding to a shape of the first projection, the first mandrel to be positioned in the cavity prior to formation of the first support structure; anda second mandrel to be positioned in the cavity of the common tool body to define a second non-common profile portion of the second support structure, the upper surface of the common tool body and an area between the upper surface and a second face of the second mandrel to define the common profile portion of the second support structure and the second face of the second mandrel to define the second non-common profile portion of the second support structure, the second face includes a second projection that defines a second aperture in the second non-common profile portion having a shape corresponding to a shape of the second projection, the second mandrel to be positioned in the cavity prior to formation of the second support structure. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the common profile portion of the first support comprises a flange and a cylindrical recess defined by a cylindrical wall and a bottom wall, the non-common profile portion of the first support comprises the bottom wall. 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the common profile portion of the second support comprises a flange and a cylindrical recess defined by a cylindrical wall and a bottom wall, the non-common portion of the second support comprises the bottom wall. 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the common tool body is configured to enable attachment of the first support structure to a first radome, the first radome to be positioned in the cavity of the common tool body after formation and removal of the first support structure, the first radome having an upper surface that includes a profile substantially similar to the first non-common profile portion such that the first aperture of the first support receives a projection projecting from the upper surface of the first radome when the first radome is coupled to the first support structure. 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the common tool body is configured to enable attachment of the second support structure to a second radome, the second radome to be positioned in the cavity of the common tool body after formation and removal of the second support structure, the second radome having an upper surface that includes a profile substantially similar to the second non-common profile portion such that the second aperture of the second support receives a projection projecting from the upper surface of the second radome when the second radome is coupled to the second support structure.