JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #52 - October 2009 - 58

KNOW-HOW Laser placement Concurrent processing of lay-up tasks In the manufacture of aircraft components made of carbon fibre material laser projectors assist in positioning prepregs and other preassembled components in a fast and accurate process. The new Client-Server solution offered by LAP for its CAD-PRO laser projectors speeds up and optimizes work flows. Using several projectors with partly overlapping fields of projection and LAP multitasking software, the new system is particularly well suited for projecting contours onto large parts with lengths of more than 30 meters and on which several teams are working at the same time. The new LAP multi-head units are realized in Client-Server technology. This enables one laser to project contours for several teams working in different areas and independently of each other. For example, it is possible to simultaneously perform various activities on the same wing, even if they do not progress at the same rate. This is how the system optimizes work flows and accelerates production. AXEL RIECKMANN, SALES MANAGER INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS, LAP GMBH LASER APPLIKATIONEN AD-PRO 3D laser projectors from LAP are used in aircraft manufacturing for positioning CFR prepregs with an exactness of a millimetre, for example, when building up fuselage and structural components (figure 1). They are capable of projecting with highest precision the contours of the parts to be positioned - even if the surfaces are curved as those of fins, wing spars, landing gear covers or cabin doors. This process does not only include the positioning of the prepregs but also the exact marking of where ribbed structures, honeycombs or copper bands are located. Focus Key points Laser projectors of the CAD-PRO series have proved successful in the manufacture of CFR and GFR components for the aerospace industry, in ship building, car racing and rotor construction for wind power plants. Colour makes for high safety LAP is the only manufacturer of laser projectors capable of projecting three colours (green/red/yellow) at the same time. This makes it possible to highlight areas requiring special treatment or attention. Changing the colour of the complete contour from green to red or yellow may be used to signal warnings. It is also possible to indicate the direction of the carbon fibres in a different colour than the contour. The projection is based on existing CAD data transmitted to the projectors. A contour is projected onto a surface by means of a laser beam deflected by two rotary, electrically actuated mirrors (galvanometers). This takes place at such a high speed that the human eye sees it as a continuous line. Typically installed at a distance of 4 m from the work surface, the laser projectors achieve a high accuracy in industrial operation. Fig. 1: LAP CAD-PRO 3D laser projectors make different contours visible to several teams at the same time. Freely programmable multitasking speeds up work flows The LAP PRO-SOFT 3D software controls the complete work jec composites magazine / No53 November - December 2009

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #52 - October 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #52 - October 2009