An approach for the processing of thermoplastic composites tapes is presented where the pick-and-place technology for the stacking is combined with sophisticated vision measuring technology. This ensures that the gap an overlap width can be minimized, even when tape cutouts with limited precision of the outer contour are used. The consolidation equipment, which is utilized directly downstream, is based on a heating-and-cooling approach where the actual melting and consolidation of the stack is carried out between thin sheet metal dies. This allows maintaining the outer contour as well as the desired thickness variations within the stack and the blank, resp.
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