Method and devices to construct artificial inline defects to calibrate inspection hardware on automated fiber placement systems
AssigneeUnited States of America AS Represented By the Adminstrator of Nasa
InventorsPeter D. Juarez, Elizabeth D. Gregory
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices are provided for the creation of predictable and accurate defects in a fiber tow of an Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) process, with such artificial defects being useful to support calibration of an in situ inspection system used in the AFP process. Various embodiments include methods for creating such artificial defects that support calibration of an in situ inspection system of an AFP system or process. Various embodiments may also include a defect stencils for an AFP system or process.
Claims20
A method for creating artificial defects in a tow, the artificial defects supporting calibration of an in situ inspection system of an Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) system, the method comprising:
- selecting a length and a width of an artificial defect;
- selecting a defect stencil having a cut path corresponding to the selected length and width, the cut path within the defect stencil;
- and
- creating the artificial defect in a tow to be deposited in a course by an AFP head of the AFP system, wherein creating the artificial defect comprises cutting a portion of tow material using the selected defect stencil before the tow is aligned by the AFP head to form the course.
A method for creating artificial defects in a tow, the artificial defects supporting calibration of an in situ inspection system of an Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) system, the method comprising:
- selecting a length and a width of an artificial defect, wherein selecting the length and the width of the artificial defect comprises selecting the length and the width of a gap defect and an overlap defect;
- selecting a defect stencil having a cut path corresponding to the selected length and width;
- and
- creating the artificial defect in a tow to be deposited in a course by the AFP system, wherein creating the artificial defect comprises cutting a portion of tow material using the selected defect stencil, wherein cutting the portion of tow material using the selected defect stencil comprises cutting a portion of a first tow of the course selected to receive the gap defect using the selected defect stencil, and wherein creating the artificial defect further comprises applying the portion of the first tow to a second tow of the course to create the overlap defect.
A defect stencil for creating artificial defects in a tow, the artificial defects supporting calibration of an in situ inspection system for an Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) system, the stencil comprising:
- a stencil top;
- and
- a stencil base having a first opening extending a depth below a surface of the stencil base and forming a cut path within the stencil base,
- wherein the stencil top and the stencil base are configured such that, when placed on one another with a tow of the AFP system in between the stencil top and the stencil base and contacting the surface of the stencil base, the stencil top and the stencil base hold the tow in place therebetween while the tow is cut along the cut path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.