US Patent 10081140 Apparatus for and method of compaction of a prepreg

A forming apparatus and method of using the apparatus with a concave mandrel to form composite materials is presented where the apparatus has a forming head with an outer surface having a contour that matches the interior surface of the concave cavity of a matching mandrel. A handle and a grip surface to allow an operator to use the forming apparatus to exert a compaction force to successive plies of prepreg to conform the laminate of plies to the interior surface of the concave cavity. Each ply is heated before contact with the forming head of the apparatus.