For narrow production width, slower speed or a general trend control a single traversing sensor can provide enough information along and across the web. The traverse equiped with one or more sensors can detect gaps, capture fiber orientation and measure the fiber areal weight during production process of the fabrics. As a result, the process engineers are enabled to control the key information of recycled carbon fiber material, non-crimp fabrics and UD tapes. Using the inline process monitoring, the quality assurance can use the just measured data to improve the ongoing production process. A roll report shows the ok and not ok areas.

Advantages

• Simultaneous detection of gaps, fiber orientation and fiber areal weight
• Monitoring production trend across and along the web
• Non-contact measurement for immediate process feedback
• Suitable for various product configurations
• Calibration and adjustment can be performed by user
• Online process control of structural properties like orientation and gaps
• Customized integration to your production line and interfaces
• Non-contact measurement and non-hazards

Characteristics

• Sensor for fiber areal weight of different size available
• Sensor for isotropy / degree of orientation
• High-speed measurement
• Setting thresholds and warning limits to support machine operator
• Standard industrial interface Ethernet
• Small space requirement/ footprint
• One to eight sensors for online gap and orientation control
• Roll report

One Tool To Detect Various Quality Parameter
– GAP Detection

By using the SURAGUS EddyCus® inline GAP traversing sensors, you will be able to detect gaps, capture the fiber orientation and measure the fiber areal weight during the production process. A fixed sensor can not identify gaps accross the whole web. The lateral movement of the EddyCus® inline GAP traversing system eliminates this problem.

One Tool To Detect Various Quality Parameters
– Fiber Orientation Monitoring

Fiber orientation is one of the most important properties of a carbon fiber component loaded in tension. The fiber orientation directly determines the load limit. This is why the correct angle of the bonded plies is so important.

SURAGUS sensors are adjusted and optimized for the angle to be detected. Each angle to be examined receives its own sensor. The distances between the individual sensors are calculated out to obtain a result that is accurate to the point.

One Tool To Detect Various Quality Parameters
– Fiber Areal Weight

The SURAGUS sensors detect two main measured variables. The angle and the strength of the signal. The strength of the signal allows conclusions to be drawn about the amount of material in the direction under consideration. As shown in the picture, a higher amplitude means a higher surface weight and a lower amplitude means less surface weight. Through our sensors, they will not be able to determine the exact basis weight. Our sensors are calibrated to a target value and relate the measured material to the target value.

How well this works depends very much on the composition. If several layers point in the same direction this is challenging for the analysis. The concept works very well in this case, but due to the missing possibility to separate the layers, only the total weight per unit area can be displayed. This leads to the fact that no recommendations for action can be derived to bring the process to the target values. Contact us to evaluate the applicability in your application.

Easy to Use Software

The software is easy to use and clearly displays the recorded values. A report can be created for each roll and can be handed over to the customer as proof of quality.

Demo Measurement To Show Feasibility

To give you an idea of the performance of eddy current technology, we offer you a free demo measurement.

The process goes something like this:

1. You contact our sales team and describe your application case
2. We evaluate whether the eddy current technology is suitable for your application
3. For highly innovative materials a non-disclosure agreement can be made in advance
4. You send us your samples
5. We measure your samples
6. We contact you and discuss the measurement results together

Typical Use Cases of the EddyCus® inline GAP

• Recycled carbon fiber
• Chopped CF material
• Monitoring conductive coating for cracks
• Monitoring inner layers of non-crimp fabrics (NCF)
• Process control of UD stacks or tapes

For more information please watch our data sheet or contact us by email.

Data Sheet for EddyCus® inline GAP