Patent ID: 8951455
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: B26D,B26F,B29C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of reinforcing a hole edge region surrounding a hole of a workpiece comprising thermoplastically bound fiber composite material, the method comprising steps of: providing the workpiece in a condition in which thermoplastic binder thereof is softened in at least a hole region of the workpiece intended for perforation; during press-forming of the workpiece between first and second mold halves: penetrating the workpiece at the hole region by moving a pointed spike positioned within the first mold half with respect to the first mold half and toward the composite material and second mold half so as to form the hole; scraping displaced composite material fibers from the spike by moving a scraper part positioned within the second mold half with respect to the second mold half and toward the hole edge region, first mold half, and spike; and compacting the hole edge region in an area surrounding the spike with a pressing surface of the scraper part so as to form a higher degree of compaction of the hole edge region with respect to surrounding regions located radially outside of the hole edge region, the hole edge region thereby exhibiting a degree of compaction of less than 90%.