Patent ID: 7655168

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin part from a plurality of fibers positioned on a tool having a female mold surface, the mold surface including a first side region, a second side region, an interior region between the first and second side regions, and transition regions between the first and second side regions and the interior region, the method comprising: positioning a compaction tool over the mold surface, the compaction tool including a first pressing device and a second pressing device carrying the first pressing device such that the first pressing device is axially movable relative to and independent of the second pressing device; pressing a first portion of the fibers against the transition regions of the mold surface with the first pressing device generally without compacting portions of the fibers outboard of the transition regions; and pressing a second portion of the fibers against the first and second side regions and shoulder regions of the mold surface outboard of the first and second side regions after pressing the first portion of the fibers against the transition regions of the mold surface.