Segmented Composite Manufacturing for Surface Quality Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The production of high-quality composite components often results in a high scrap rate due to irregularities in surface finish, fiber arrangement, and other defects, which are difficult to detect and correct before the final product is completed, leading to increased costs and ecological concerns.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced where the production of components is divided into two parts: a visible surface part and a structural support part, allowing for early inspection and correction of surface defects, with the visible surface being produced separately from the carrier structure and connected later, enabling efficient quality control and reduction of scrap rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the production of composite components is performed as an integrated process, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but surface quality and defect detection capability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidsurface quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The production process is divided into two independent stages: (1) producing a first part with optimized visible surfaces that can be removed from the mold for inspection, and (2) producing a second part with support structures and bonding them together. This segmentation allows the visible surfaces to be manufactured and inspected separately, enabling early defect detection while maintaining overall manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If the component is produced as a complete integrated structure, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to inspect and correct surface defects deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoiddefect detection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The component is segmented into a first part containing visible surfaces and a second part containing support structures. The first part can be removed from the mold after production to allow thorough inspection of visible surfaces before the component is reassembled into its final stable configuration, enabling defect detection without compromising structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If defective components are produced and then discarded, then quality control is simplified, but material waste and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality controlVSAvoidmaterial waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The visible surfaces are produced in a first part that can be inspected before final assembly. This preliminary inspection allows defective visible surfaces to be detected early, preventing waste of materials and resources that would be required to produce, assemble, and then discard a complete defective component. The first part can be discarded separately if defective, minimizing material loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2822762B1Method for producing components from fibre-reinforced composite material
Publication Date: 2019.05.29 MUBEA CARBO TECH GMBH
  • EP2822762B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing a component (9) from fibre-reinforced composite material. In a first step, a mould (1) is provided and, in a second step, a surface layer (3) is introduced into a cavity (2) of the mould (1). In a further step, a fibre layer (4) is applied to the surface layer (3) and is cured together with the latter to form a first part (5). Afterwards, the first part (5) is subjected to a check. If the check proceeds positively, a carrier structure (8) is connected operatively to the first part (5).