is between the first face sheet and the flange the system includes a second face sheet covering the preform and the tile on a side opposite from the first face sheet application_number US 82585510 A description the following detailed description illustrates the disclosure by way of example and not by way of limitation the description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure describes several embodiments adaptations variations alternatives and uses of the disclosure including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the disclosure the disclosure is described as applied to a preferred embodiment namely a process of forming composite armor laminates however it is contemplated that this disclosure has general application to manufacturing components and assemblies where materials may be joined to form larger subsystems of panels and or sheets that heretofore required significant manual labor to assemble fig1 is a perspective view of an exemplary preform 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention preform 100 includes a sidewall 102 that is configurable to a plurality of different shapes preform 100 is illustrated in fig1 in a hexagonal shape but any shape or amorphous contour is contemplated perform 100 is formed in a closed configuration such that a cell 104 is circumscribed by preform 100 preform 100 may include a single cell 104 or may include a plurality of cells in the exemplary embodiment cells 104 are sized and shaped complementary to a predetermined size and shape of a tile of armor material to be received therein in one embodiment preform 100 is formed from a web of material in a desired shape in other embodiments preform 100 is formed from a continuous composite fiber wound through a form or.