Patent ID: 8919410

Claim:
A composite placement system for producing small sized flat laminates having a length and width that extends in the X and Y axes, and a constant height measured in the Z-axis, the system comprising: a fixed creel for delivering composite material used by the system, the creel having a fixed vertical front wall; a composite placement head coupled to the fixed vertical front wall of the creel, wherein the composite placement head has a compaction roller or shoe for applying composite material to a tool positioned under the composite placement head; a movable table for supporting the tool under the composite placement head, whereby the composite placement head is fixed in the X and Y axes and Z-axis during the application of composite material to the tool; a vertical slide mounted on the fixed vertical front wall of the creel; a bracket coupled to the vertical slide, wherein the composite placement head is mounted on the bracket; and, an actuator mounted on the fixed vertical front wall of the creel, whereby the actuator and the vertical slide moves the bracket, the composite placement head, and the compaction roller or shoe in the Z-axis relative to the creel and out of contact with the tool so that the tool may be moved to a new position relative to the composite placement head.