Composite material collation machine and associated method for high rate collation of composite materials

A composite material collation machine comprising:

• a laser diode array for heating at least one fiber tape;
• a compaction device for pressing the fiber tape against a workpiece in a compaction region such that the fiber tape conforms to the contour of the workpiece and is adhered thereto;
• an inspection system for monitoring at least one of the fiber tape and the workpiece, the inspection system producing an output representative of at least one characteristic of at least one of the fiber tape and the workpiece;
• and
• a controller capable of receiving the output from the inspection system and automatically altering at least one system parameter defining an operational characteristic of the composite material collation machine based thereon,
• wherein the inspection system further comprises a camera for receiving images of the fiber tape after the fiber tape has passed through the compaction region.

A composite material collation machine comprising:

• a laser diode array for heating at least one fiber tape;
• a compaction device for pressing the fiber tape against a workpiece in a compaction region such that the fiber tape conforms to the contour of the workpiece and is adhered thereto;
• an inspection system for monitoring at least one of the fiber tape and the workpiece, the inspection system producing an output representative of at least one characteristic of at least one of the fiber tape and the workpiece;
• a controller capable of receiving the output from the inspection system and automatically altering at least one system parameter defining an operational characteristic of the composite material collation machine based thereon;
• and
• a temperature sensor capable of measuring the temperature of the fiber tape,
• wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure the temperature of at least one sensing zone and the controller is capable of automatically controlling the laser diode array to independently irradiate a plurality of irradiation zones, wherein each of the sensing zones and the irradiation zones defines an area selected from the group consisting of an area on one of the fiber tapes and an area on the workpiece.