Tape Layup Generation

Announcing a Tape Layup Generation tool. The tool is being developed as part of a project to extend STEP-NC for tape layup machines. In this initial configuration you can split a STEP surface into tapes. Please note the simple option if you just want to sample the output. To make the input you need an advanced STEP translator that makes open shells trimmed by composite curves. The translator is available in some CAD systems as an option for those designing composite materials.

• Download Link [zip, 8mb]
• Test Data File [stp, 2mb]

usage: composite_ply [options] <stpfile>

  Compute the tape plies for a surface.

Options: 
  -o <outfile> - write the output to the given file 
      default is <stpfile>-plys.stp 
  -tow <width> - set the tow width (default is .5) 
  -lanes - set the number of lanes in a course (default is 12)

The options allow you to define the width of the tape and the number of tapes in a course. The images below show the results for a surface that includes voids. These images were made using STEP-NC Machine an advanced manufacturing tool available from STEP Tools, Inc. The command line tool creates an AP242 file that you can read into a CAD system with a STEP translator if it understands open shells.