In-process inspection tool
AssigneeWichita State University
InventorsWaruna Seneviratne, Tharaka Nandakumara
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool for use with Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) machines and systems for use in in-process inspection of composite parts. The AFP system uses a robot, fiber guide, compaction roller, heating system, and an in-process inspection tool. The in-process inspection tool utilizes at least one profiler housed within a support bracket, which mounts the profiler on an AFP head of the AFP system such that the profiler does not interfere with the AFP layup, but outputs an in-process inspection signal representing a surface profile of a fiber strip as it is placed onto a molding for a composite part by the AFP head.
Claims21
An in-process inspection tool for an automated fiber placement (AFP) system for making a composite part, the tool comprising:
- a profiler configured to detect surface profiles;
- and
- a support bracket configured to mount the profiler on an AFP head of the AFP system such that the profiler is configured to output an in-process inspection signal representing a surface profile of a fiber strip as the AFP head places the fiber strip on a molding for the composite part;
- wherein the support bracket comprises a bracket mount for mounting the support bracket on the AFP head and a profiler mount for mounting the profiler on the support bracket;
- wherein the profiler mount comprises a main profiler mounting plate extending generally in a profiler mounting plane and having a mounting side on which the main profiler mounting plate is configured to mount the profiler;
- wherein the main profiler mounting plate comprises a first plate section and a second plate section joined to the first plate section at a vertex, the first plate section and the second plate section defining an included angle at the vertex on the mounting side of the main profiler mounting plate, the included angle being less than 180°.
An in-process inspection tool for an automated fiber placement (AFP) system for making a composite part, the tool comprising:
- a profiler configured to detect surface profiles;
- and
- a support bracket configured to mount the profiler on an AFP head of the AFP system such that the profiler is configured to output an in-process inspection signal representing a surface profile of a fiber strip as the AFP head places the fiber strip on a molding for the composite part;
- wherein the support bracket comprises a bracket mount for mounting the support bracket on the AFP head and a profiler mount for mounting the profiler on the support bracket;
- wherein the profiler mount comprises a main profiler mounting plate extending generally in a profiler mounting plane and having a mounting side on which the main profiler mounting plate is configured to mount the profiler;
- wherein the bracket mount comprises a mounting foot extending generally in a mounting foot plane, the mounting foot plane being oblique to the profiler mounting plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.