Patent ID: 8048253

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a composite preform out of tape material from a tape supply, the method comprising: providing a tape section in a tape section guide that suspends the tape section across a tooling surface, wherein the tape section is separate from the tape supply; moving at least one of the tape section guide and the tooling surface relative to each other to position the tape section at a desired location and orientation relative to the tooling surface; moving the tape section toward a pre-existing tape section disposed on the tooling surface, wherein moving the tape section toward the pre-existing tape section comprises moving the tape section guide until the tape section is positioned near the pre-existing tape section; and tacking the tape section to the pre-existing tape section, wherein tacking the tape section comprises pressing a portion of the tape section unsupported by the tape section guide such that the tape section contacts the pre-existing tape section and tacking the unsupported portion to the pre-existing tape section.