Method for surface replication via thermoplastic media
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Corporation
InventorsRobert J. Christ, Jerrell A. Nardiello, John M. Papazian, John Steven Madsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of inspecting a specimen under test may comprise the step of disposing melted thermoplastic media onto a surface under test of the specimen under test, maintaining a constant temperature of the specimen under test at or about room temperature wherein the temperature of the specimen under test is initially lower than the temperature of the melted thermoplastic media, hardening the melted thermoplastic media to produce a replica with imperfections molded into a mating surface of the replica, and inspecting the mating surface of the replica for unsatisfactory or satisfactory imperfections in the specimen under test.
Claims11
A method for inspecting a surface of a specimen for unsatisfactory imperfections in the surface under test, the method comprising the steps of:
- disposing melted thermoplastic media on the surface under test;
- hardening the thermoplastic media to produce a replica having a mating surface with imperfections of the surface under test molded into the mating surface;
- maintaining a constant temperature of the specimen under test;
- inspecting the imperfections molded into the mating surface;
- rejecting the specimen under test if the imperfection molded into the mating surface is unsatisfactory;
- and
- accepting the specimen under test if the imperfection molded into the mating surface is satisfactory.
A kit for inspecting a surface under test of a specimen under test for unsatisfactory imperfections in the surface under test, the kit comprising:
- solid thermoplastic media;
- a thermoplastic media applicator comprising:
- a container for holding the solid thermoplastic media;
- a hose in fluid communication with the container;
- a dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the hose;
- a heater in heat communication with the container for melting the solid thermoplastic media disposed in the container;
- a pump for flowing melted thermoplastic media out of the container, through the hose and out of the dispensing nozzle;
- and
- a cooling device attachable to the specimen under test for maintaining a constant temperature of the specimen under test such that a replica is disbondable from the specimen under test.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.