Patent ID: 8557165

Claim:
A method of forming a contoured composite part comprising: placing a composite charge comprising multiple prepreg plies between a first die and a second die, the first die and the second die each comprise individually slidably displaceable portions configured to change a respective die contour, and the individually slidably displaceable portions are slidably displaceable with respect to a longitudinal direction of said composite charge; using one or more of the individually slidably displaceable portions to form a portion of the composite charge to a first contour of the part, said first contour comprising a curvature extending longitudinally with respect to said part; and following formation of the first contour, sequentially forming a remaining portion of the composite charge to at least one other contour extending longitudinally with respect to the part, sequentially forming includes longitudinally sliding one or more remaining individually slidably displaceable portions to form the remaining portion.