National Research Council of Canada

Bruno Gauthier

Guy Lamouche

Jean-Pierre Monchalin

Christian Padioleau

Steven Roy

Marc L Dufour

Ali Yousefpour

A technique for automated online inspection of manufacture of a fibre reinforced polymer composite part during automated ribbon placement (e.g. ATL or AFP) uses interferometric inspection (e.g. OCT) to detect deviations from a planned lay-up for the part, to identify defects. On line, real-time inspection (i.e. on-the-fly) is demonstrated, and edge type defects and whole surface defects are identifiable. A sensor is demonstrated that does not extend a working envelope of the robotic head used for rib bon placement.

Real-time inspection of automated ribbon placement

A scanning optical delay line includes an optical path element that rotates about its central axis, such that a face is intermittently incident a beam of light to be optically delayed. When the beam is not incident the face, it is reflected onto a reinsertion line which provides a second opportunity for the beam to intersect the optical path element. The optical path element may include one or more parallelogram prisms, or parallel reflective surfaces to provide a substantially linear optical path length variation during the scan, which is produced by the rotation of the optical path element. A highly linear part of the rotation can be maximally used providing a high duty cycle, high linearity scanning optical delay line that permits high quality, high data rate applications.

Method and apparatus for scanning optical delay line

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Saint-Sulpice, Canada

Bruno Gauthier