AN EVALUATION OF THE SURFACE ACCURACY OF ADVANCED COMPOSITE PARTS BUILT USING RAPIDPROTOTYPE METHODS

摘要

The accuracy of rapid-prototype advanced composite parts, fabricated by hand layup oninexpensive tooling, has not been well quantified in the literature. This paper identifies theaccuracy, via non-contact surface profiling, of the mold and the cured composite part. Geometrycomparisons between the CAD dataset, the part “as-built” dataset (obtained using laser scanningmetrology data from a ZScanner? 700PX and an ATOS 3D White Light scanner) and predictedresults, derived from COMPRO analysis, are presented. COMPRO is a Finite Element-basedpredictive software that can predict cure induced residual stresses and deformation in compositeparts. The software has the ability to account for factors such as cure behavior of the materialsystem as it interacts with the thermal expansion of the mold. The results provide an indicationof the manufactured part tolerances that are typical with rapid-prototype tooling, materials, andprocesses.