on the moment of inertia when compared to the base (b) length. This means that localized areas of height can be created with tailored fiber placement that significantly can help to better resist bending at that location. This optimization allows for decreased material usage to achieve the same, if not improved, bulk material properties when compared to other composite processes. ZSK offers machines that can lay fibers up to 8 mm thick. This averages out to about 8 layers of 50 K carbon fiber roving. This thickness can be uniform over the entire surface of the preform part or can be selectively placed in key structural areas for additional material conscience mechanical support. Optimization five: Comingled fibrous materials One of the drawbacks of traditional composite laminate manufacturing can be the long cycle times required to properly cure a thermoset resin. New materials, called comingled fibers, have been created to decease the processing time. In comingled fibers, a carbon fiber tow has additional thermoplastic matrix materials added directly into its fiber structure. These comingled materials can be stitched in the same manner as other tailored fiber placement composite materials. However, these preforms can quickly be thermocycled in a heated press to rapidly reduce the cycle processing time. Traditional thermoset composite materials using resin transfer molding can require between 30 minutes to 40 hours to properly set and cure a single piece. Tailored fiber placement of comingled materials allows for the placement of both the reinforcing fiber, and the matrix material in the same preform. As the preform is heated, the liquid matrix is distributed directly into the carbon fiber allowing proper wetting. The tailored fiber placement of comingled fibers eliminates the need for additional resins and can significantly reduce materials cost. Additionally, the desired fiber to volume fraction is created during the comingling step, increasing the uniformity of the composite material from batch to batch. Finally, these comingled fiber composites are a step towards a more sustainable carbon fiber composite due to their ability to be re-melted into new forms at the end of their lifecycle. Optimization six: Machine versatility without retooling Another significant process optimization that occurs with tailored fiber placement when compared with other composite processes, is the ability for the production machine to rapidly change its production from one design to a completely different design without any additional retooling of the machine. This can allow the same machine