SS-OCT technology for the in-process inspection of the automated fiber placement manufacturing process

Abstract

Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) is an additive manufacturing process that enables the fabrication of complex parts for the aerospace industry. In-process inspection (IPI) for AFP is a technology that has been in high demand by most manufacturers for a long time since the current quality control, based on visual inspection, is a time-consuming process. The development of an IPI system for AFP presents many challenges. We show that the Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography (SS-OCT) technology addresses these challenges to provide a welcomed solution to the AFP manufacturing industry.