Digital three dimensional (3D) measurement of bondline thickness and width during blade assembly

A method for measuring bondline thickness of a wind turbine blade, the method comprising:

• providing a three dimensional laser scanning device;
• providing a first mold half, the first mold half defining a pressure side of the wind turbine blade;
• providing a second mold half, the second mold half defining a suction side of the wind turbine blade;
• scanning a first blade shell in the first mold half, the first mold half having a mold flange and a mold knob, forming a first scan;
• scanning a second blade shell in the second mold half, the second mold half having a mold flange and a mold knob, forming a second scan;
• scanning the at least one shear web exterior to the mold, forming a third scan;
• bonding the at least one shear web to the first blade shell;
• scanning the bonded at least one shear web and the first blade shell, forming a fourth scan;
• closing the first mold half onto the second mold half to form a closed mold;
• scanning the mold flanges and the mold knobs of the closed mold, forming a fifth scan;
• aligning the first, second, third, fourth and fifth scans;
• and
• measuring at least one bondline of the aligned scans.