New Test System for the Performance of Tapes — TAPETEST

During manufacturing of composites using tape laying processes the quality of the tape is essential. Variations in the tape affect both the robustness of the manufacturing process as well as the quality of the final product. Thus, quality control of tapes and improvement of final composite performance are imminent.

With TAPETEST for the first time a commercial test system is available, that characterizes tapes in detail in multiple aspects.

Moreover, TAPETEST opens the possibility to create a digital twin of the tape. This allows to use every meter of the tape in the best possible way: avoid the laydown of faulty tape sections into critical section of the composite to improve product quality and increase production efficiency.

The TAPETEST system is modular and can be equipped with the following modules depending on customer requirements:

Wind-off Module: with active control and broken filament counter.

Friction Module: Measuring the friction of the tape to arbitrary surfaces (in combination with the tension module).

Width and Thickness Module: Measuring the width and the thickness of the tape using laser-triangulation. Detects gaps and variations in the cross-sectional profile of the tape.

Fibre Orientation Module: Monitors the fibre orientation in CFtapes using polarized light. Variation in fibre orientation, bakedin fluff and stray filaments are detected.

Eddy Current Module: Measures the internal fibre orientation and homogeneity of fibre distribution using Eddy currents.

Thermography Module: Measures the dynamic heat take-up of the tape, revealing possible problems during in-
situ consolidation during the laydown of thermoplastic tapes.

Tension and Broken Filament Module: Measures the tension of the tape after passing through the Friction Module. Counts the number of filaments extending from the tape.

Windup Module: Transports the tape through the modules of the TAPETEST. Wind-up for further use of the tape.

Instrument for the characterization of tapes

TAPETEST

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