A set of trials, resulting in a Capital purchase, to assess high-speed inspection system to inspect plies that have been deposited and lie on a 3D tool surface or on plies stacked onto the tool.

Tools will be up to 20x5m and gently curving, with plies up to 20×2.5m. We aim to be inspecting ply shape accuracy and position on tool, material edge damage, wrinkling, folding, FOD, and validating fibre direction. The inspection system could scan the entire scene from one vantage point, or many, or be attached to an accurate CNC controlled gantry that we have in the cell in order to achieve a full ply scan. We are aiming to scan each ply within 30s.

We understand that the current state of the art (SotA) does not achieve all of this, and we wish to work with suppliers to achieve the best rate possible, and we may purchase or develop a complimentary system to fill the gaps in the existing SotA.