An improved filament winding method and apparatus for fabrication of composite material products is based on a mechanism that rotates filaments around a non-rotating mandrel. The primary filaments in predetermined patterns tend to move on the mandrel and thus such filaments are fixed in position relative to the mandrel by over-wrapping them with secondary filaments applied over the primary filaments. The winding mechanism functions by rotating filament spools around a non-rotating mandrel rather than rotating the mandrel to pull the filaments onto the mandrel. The mandrel is axially translated through the center of the winding mechanism or the winding mechanism is translated over a stationary mandrel which is supported in such a manner as to provide for such translation.