Patent attributes
The process for laying a non-full width course of fiber composite tape in a part is designed to ensure that all of the scrap portion of the tape surrounding the non-full width course is deposited in the scrap area and not in the part. An extra cut is made in tape downstream of the non-full width course, between the non-full width course and next course. After the tape head attempts to lay the scrap in the scrap area in the forward direction, the tape head makes a pass in the scrap area with the tape feed and the tape head moving in the reverse direction, and the scrap is laid beginning from the portion of the tape having the extra cut, and progressing to the non-full width course. The method may be used to remove scrap from around non-full width courses having any shape.