Automated inspection of composite components: comparison between methods

A carbon fibre piece, obtained by a tow filament winding process, is examined, to evaluate the surface void fraction. This defect strongly influences the capability of the product to satisfy in service requirements, producing a worsening of the mechanical characteristics of the component, as well as problems of permeability. In this paper, two different approaches will be used for the inspection of the piece, one based on a vision system and one on thermography, and the results will be compared for validation purposes. Moreover, peculiarities and differences of the two approaches will be highlighted, in order to allow the most appropriate choice of the inspection method in practical applications, according to the specific needs, such as production speed, product requirements, economic constraints.