Patent ID: 9481158
Filing Date: 2016-11-01
CPC Classification: B29C,B32B,Y02T,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. An automated fiber placement (AFP) machine for placing composite material on a substrate, the AFP machine comprising: a first low-profile tow control module comprising one or more circular cutter blades; a second low-profile tow control module comprising one or more circular cutter blades; a vee block coupled to the first and second low-profile tow control modules and located between the first and second low-profile tow control modules, the vee block comprising a solid component with cavities and a plurality of air passages located therein for pneumatic control of the first and second tow control modules; and a plurality of air cylinders coupled to the vee block and nested between the first low-profile tow control module and the second low-profile tow control module, the plurality of air cylinders being aligned with the air passages located within the vee block.