Patent ID: 9694546
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: B29C

Claim:
1. A method of identifying mislocations in a placement of tows by a fiber placement machine, comprising: laying down a first test layup comprising a first plurality of tows using the fiber placement machine and a controller program; scanning the first plurality of tows, wherein scanning the first plurality of tows generates position data for the first plurality of tows, and wherein the position data comprises a separate corresponding position of each of the first plurality of tows; comparing the position data with reference datum to identify mislocations, wherein the reference datum comprises a separate corresponding correct position of each of the plurality of tows; determining if the mislocations are within predetermined limits; generating compensation values from identified mislocations outside of the predetermined limits; modifying the controller program using the compensation values to form a modified program; and using the modified program to lay down a second test layup comprising a second plurality of tows, the second test layup being substantially similar to the first test layup but comprising placement adjustments resulting from the compensation values in the modified program.