DE102014111118B4 - Method for producing a fiber composite component, method for verifying a fiber composite component and reference element - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of producing a fiber composite component which is formed from a fiber material infused with a matrix material, comprising a) providing a fiber preform formed from a fiber material, b) providing at least one separate reference element for determining a component-side coordinate system or for referencing the component with respect to an external reference element C) positioning the at least one separate reference element at a predetermined position of the provided fiber preform, and d) producing the fiber composite component from the fiber preform provided with the at least one reference element by curing a matrix material infused into the fiber material of the fiber preform, characterized in that the at least one reference element is inserted into a recess provided in the shaping tool surface of a molding tool and fiber material for forming the fiber preform into the molding system is introduced, so that the separate reference element is contacted with the fiber material of the Faserpreform.

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing a fiber composite component, which is formed from a fiber material infused with a matrix material according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a method for verifying a fiber composite component against a digital model and a reference element thereto according to the preamble of the claim 4th

Components made of a fiber composite material, so-called fiber composite components, have become indispensable in the aerospace industry. But also in the automotive sector, the use of such materials is becoming more and more popular. In particular, critical structural elements are made of fiber reinforced plastics due to the high weight specific strength and stiffness with minimal weight. Due to the anisotropic properties of the fiber composites resulting from the fiber orientation, the components can be adapted to local loads and thus enable optimal material utilization in terms of lightweight construction.

In the production of fiber composite components in which a matrix material infused into a fiber material is cured, so that the matrix material forms an integral unit with the fiber material, deformation-induced deformations inevitably occur, which are due to the anisotropic material behavior of the composite. For the purposes of quality assurance and to determine whether the component produced meets the specified tolerances, it is necessary to analyze these unwanted deformations and to quantify the existing deviation.

In practice, for this purpose, the produced fiber composite component is measured and then compared to the digital data of a digital model, for example, in this case in CAD data. From the comparison between measured data of the manufactured fiber composite component and the desired data of the digital model, the deviations can then be detected and clearly quantified.

However, the unambiguous orientation over the whole area of metered and fabricated fiber composite components is a problem compared to the digital model, since due to the production-related deformation of the fiber composite component produced the shape changes and thus a clear match of the geometry for the purpose of alignment is no longer given.

From the WO 2009/021038 A1 A method and a system for detecting the orientation of fibers of deposited fiber materials is known, wherein the position of the laying head is detected by means of a laser tracking system and then the actual position of the deposited fibers can be determined on the basis of the kinematic chain.

From the DE 10 2011 119 223 A1 a manufacturing apparatus for the production of fiber-reinforced components is known, wherein for referencing and identification on the components of an opto-electronic code, such as a bar code or a QR code is printed.

From the EP 1 749 642 A2 It is known to provide the semi-finished products or the preform with RFID tags in order to be able to identify the orientation or the order of the individual fiber layers.

From the DE 10 2011 056 415 A1 Finally, it is known to apply a luminescent material to the fiber material so as to be able to determine the orientation when the fiber mats are illuminated.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the verification of fiber composite components, so that the fiber composite component can be sufficiently compared to a digital model despite the production-related deformation.

The object is achieved according to the invention with the method for producing a fiber composite component according to claim 1, a reference element for arrangement on a fiber composite component according to claim 4 and a method for verifying a fiber composite component according to claim 7.

According to claim 1, a method for producing a fiber composite component is proposed, wherein the fiber composite component is formed from a fiber material infused with a matrix material. For this purpose, first of all a fiber preform formed from a fiber material is provided, wherein the later fiber composite component is to be produced from the fiber preform by hardening a matrix material infused into the fiber preform. The fiber preform may in this case be formed, for example, from dry or already preimpregnated fiber material.

According to the invention, it is now proposed that at least one separate reference element is provided, which is designed to determine a component-side coordinate system or to reference the component with respect to an external coordinate system. The separate reference element is now positioned at a predetermined position on the fiber preform provided, thus resulting in a unique assignment between position on the provided fiber preform and reference element. Subsequently, the fiber composite member is prepared from the fiber preform on which the reference member is positioned and arranged by curing a matrix material infused into the fibrous material of the fiber preform such that the reference member positioned and positioned on the fiber preform is later fabricated Fiber composite component remains.

According to the invention, a molding tool is provided which has a predetermined tool surface in which a recess is provided, in which the at least one reference element can be inserted. For the production of the fiber composite component with the reference element, the separate reference element is thus inserted into the recess of the mold and then introduced the fiber material to form the Faserpreform in the mold, whereby the reference element is positioned and arranged on the outer surface of the fiber composite component to be produced.

The reference element can be connected to the fiber composite component cohesively and / or non-positively. It is particularly advantageous if the reference element enters into a cohesive connection with the matrix material infused into the fiber material of the fiber preform during curing of the matrix material and is thus fixedly arranged on the fiber composite component.

Advantageously, the reference element on the fiber composite component is positioned so that in a later measurement of the manufactured fiber composite component, this reference element is detectable by the surveying system.

In particular, it is advantageous if the fiber composite component is manufactured with the reference element so that the reference element after preparation of the fiber composite component and measuring the fiber composite component of the fiber composite component can be solved, for example by dissolving the cohesive connection between fiber composite component and reference element.

In a fiber composite component produced in this way, when measuring the fiber composite component by means of the reference element arranged at the predetermined position of the fiber composite component, a unique, component-side coordinate system can be constructed, so that the fiber composite component becomes exactly comparable with respect to the component-side coordinate system. It is also possible with such a fiber composite component, the fiber composite component, which is part of a larger component to reference with respect to its exact position within a group of components, with the aid of the reference element, whereby the position of the component in the digital model is clearly determined and thus the comparison of the produced fiber composite component with the digital model is defined possible.

With the aid of a fiber composite component produced in this way, it is thus possible, despite the production-related deformation of the fiber composite component, to unambiguously determine the deviation resulting from the deformation.

The positioning of the reference element on the Faserpreform is understood in particular that the separate reference element is brought into contact with the provided Faserpreform, so that the separate reference element is at least firmly bonded and / or non-positively arranged with a later manufactured fiber composite component.

The separate reference element is not an essential component of the fiber composite component and is provided in particular separately therefrom. The separate reference element is in particular not integrally connected to the fiber composite component and not integrally formed with this. In this case, the separate reference element does not assume any function necessary for the purpose of fulfilling the task of the fiber composite component on the later-produced fiber composite component and merely serves for determining a component-side coordinate system or for referencing the component with respect to an external coordinate system. In particular, the separate reference element does not consist of a fiber material of the fiber composite component.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the separate reference element is not positioned at the predetermined position, but also positioned according to a predetermined orientation on the Faserpreform. Due to the predetermined and fixed orientation of the reference element and the corresponding position on the component, an exact component-side coordinate system can be constructed, so that the production-related deformations of the fiber composite component can be clearly identified. Due to the fact that the separate reference element is inserted at a unique and predetermined position in the mold, the reference element is also contacted at the introduction of fiber material in the mold at a predetermined position of the Faserpreform to be formed.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of this, a counterpart is arranged between the reference element and the bottom of the recess of the mold, which in the Ground-facing side of the reference element engages positively. This is particularly advantageous if the separate reference element has relief-like marking elements which point in the direction of the bottom of the depression when the reference element is inserted into the recess of the molding tool. Without such a counterpart there would be the risk that matrix material injected into the preform will penetrate into the depression and thus possibly make the reference element unusable. With the help of the counterpart, which is arranged between the bottom of the recess and the reference element and which can be positively brought into engagement with the surface of the reference element, such contamination of the reference element can be avoided.

The counterpart thus offers protection against resin intrusions and may in particular consist of or comprise a silicone or silicone-like, sealing substance. After production of the fiber composite component and removal from the mold, the counterpart is removed from the reference element.

Incidentally, the object is also achieved with a reference element according to claim 4 for placement on a fiber composite component, wherein the reference element is designed for attachment to a fiber composite component and has one or more markers for determining the component-side coordinate system or for referencing the component with respect to a global coordinate system, when the reference element is arranged on a fiber composite component.

The reference element according to the invention can be used in particular in the above-mentioned method for producing a fiber composite component with such a reference element.

The reference element has a surface on which one or more relief-like markings are arranged, in particular elevations as relief-like markings. Such relief-like markings can then be detected with the aid of an optical and / or tactile measuring system, whereby in addition to the detection of the reference element and thus the determination of the unique position of the component, a corresponding component-side coordinate system can be determined.

If a tactile measuring system is used, it is advantageous if the one or more elevations additionally contain bores as relief-like markings in order to be able to detect the reference element and the relief-like markings.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the reference element on a plastic material, in particular thermosets and / or thermoplastics. It is also conceivable that the reference element comprises a metal material, in particular steel, aluminum and / or invar, or consists of such a material.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the reference element has a latching nose or indentation arranged on the circumference of the reference element and cooperating with a shaping provided in the molding tool for the predetermined alignment of the reference element. This makes it possible that the reference element can be inserted clearly in the predetermined shape of the mold and thus is aligned clearly with respect to the predetermined orientation. It is also conceivable, however, for the reference element to have an irregular circumferential shape which cooperates with a shaping provided in the molding tool for the predetermined orientation of the reference element.

Incidentally, the object is also achieved according to the invention with the method for verifying a fiber composite component according to claim 7. Here, a fiber composite component is first prepared by the method described above, wherein the fiber composite component advantageously has at least one reference element as described above.

The fiber composite component thus produced with the reference element is now measured by means of an optical or tactile measuring system, wherein the survey data resulting from the measurement are provided to a computing unit. During the measurement, the reference element positioned on the fiber composite component is detected and is thus part of the survey data.

Subsequently, the thus-measured fiber composite component is verified with respect to a digital model, as a function of the detected reference element and the survey data of the measuring fiber composite component by means of a computing unit. In this case, a component-side coordinate system is advantageously determined as a function of the detected reference element, in which case the fiber-composite component is verified in dependence on the component-side coordinate system and the survey data with the digital model.

It is also conceivable that, depending on the detected reference element, the fiber composite component is referenced with respect to an external coordinate system, wherein the Fiber composite component is verified in response to the referencing of the fiber composite component with the external coordinate system and the survey data with the digital model.

Thus, on the one hand, it can be ascertained which deformations the component has in itself, because, on the basis of the component-side coordinate system, an unambiguous assignment of the survey data to the digital model for the purpose of verification becomes possible. On the other hand, the component, which is part of a larger group of components, can be clearly placed in the digital model with the aid of the detected reference element and is thus referenced relative to its position.

The invention will be explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the figures. Show it:

1 - Schematic representation of the production of a fiber composite component;

2 - Schematic representation of the reference element according to the invention;

3 - Schematic representation of a manufactured fiber composite component.

In 1 the production of a fiber composite component is shown schematically, in which case a Faserpreform 1 in a mold 2 , which is a shaping tool surface 3 has to be introduced.

In the shaping tool surface 3 is a depression 4 provided in which a reference element 5 can be introduced according to the present invention. The depression 4 is designed so that the inserted reference element 5 flush with the forming tool surface 3 concludes.

To avoid contamination, is between the bottom of the recess 4 and the reference element 5 a counterpart 6 arranged with the shape of the reference element 5 and the surface facing the bottom of the depression 4 shows, positively engages engageable. As a result, resulting cavities during introduction of the reference element 5 into the depression 4 through the counterpart 6 occupied, so that here no resin or matrix material can penetrate.

Then we the Faserpreform 1 or the fiber material on the mold 2 and the shaping tool surface 3 deposited, whereby the fiber material of Faserpreform 1 with the reference element 5 contacted and thus positioned.

2 schematically shows such a reference element 5 in an advantageous embodiment. The reference element 5 has on a surface a plurality of relief-like markings 7 on, which may be, for example, cylindrically raised markings or surveys. In the embodiment of 2 Here are four relief-like markings 7 provided, wherein at least three such relief-like markings 7 are necessary for determining a unique component-side coordinate system. The reference element 5 is thereby arranged with the side not shown on the fiber composite component, so that the relief-like markings 7 can be detected by an optical and / or tactile measuring system.

The reference element 5 shows in the embodiment of 2 Furthermore, an alignment aid 8th , which takes the form of a detent from the circumference of the reference element 5 is arranged projecting. This locking lug is engageable with a corresponding shape in the mold in engagement, so that the reference element 5 is clearly positionable in the mold and thus the relief-like markings 7 be clearly aligned.

The reference element 5 should be at least 1 mm thick to minimize warping. It has been shown that the height of the relief-like markings 7 from 0.125 mm are detectable and thus represent an advantageous embodiment.

The counterpart 6 shows the same basic shape as the reference element 5 on, with corresponding recesses are provided for the relief-like markings, so as the reference element 5 with the counterpart 6 engage positively.

3 schematically shows a fiber composite component 10 to which such a reference element 5 according to the manufacturing method as described above. With the help of the reference element 5 arranged relief-like markings 7 , which correspond to the alignment aid 8th clearly opposite the component 10 aligned, can be a coordinate system after measuring the component 10 determine so that the shape of the component relative to the component-side coordinate system is clearly verifiable.

It is therefore particularly advantageous if, based on the geometry of the reference element 5 a unique component-side coordinate system can be defined.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 Fiber material of the fiber preform

2

 mold

3

 tool surface

4

 deepening

5

 reference element

6

 counterpart

7

 relief-like markings

8th

 alignment

10

 Fiber composite component

Claims (9)

A method of producing a fiber composite component which is formed from a fiber material infused with a matrix material, comprising a) providing a fiber preform formed from a fiber material, b) providing at least one separate reference element for determining a component-side coordinate system or for referencing the component with respect to an external reference element C) positioning the at least one separate reference element at a predetermined position of the provided fiber preform, and d) producing the fiber composite component from the fiber preform provided with the at least one reference element by curing a matrix material infused into the fiber material of the fiber preform, characterized in that the at least one reference element is inserted into a recess provided in the shaping tool surface of a molding tool and fiber material for forming the fiber preform into the molding system is introduced, so that the separate reference element is contacted with the fiber material of the Faserpreform. The method of claim 1, characterized by positioning the at least one separate reference element at the predetermined position of the provided fiber preform with a predetermined orientation of the reference element with respect to the provided fiber preform. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the reference element and the bottom of the recess of the molding tool, a counterpart is arranged, which engages positively in the ground-facing side of the reference element. Reference element for arranging on a fiber composite component, wherein the reference element is designed for attachment to a fiber composite component and one or more markers for determining the component-side coordinate system or for referencing the component with respect to a global coordinate system, when the reference element is arranged on a fiber composite component, characterized that the reference element has a surface on which one or more relief-like markings are arranged in the form of elevations in which additional holes are present. Reference element according to claim 4, characterized in that the reference element comprises a plastic material, in particular thermosets and / or thermoplastics, and / or a metal material, in particular steel, aluminum and / or Invar, or consists of this. Reference element according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the reference element has a arranged on the circumference of the reference element locking lug or indentation or an irregular peripheral shape which cooperates with a provided in the mold molding for the predetermined orientation of the reference element. Method for verifying a fiber composite component, comprising the steps: a) producing a fiber composite component according to the method according to one of claims 1 to 3, b) measuring the fiber composite component produced in step a) by means of an optical or tactile measuring system and providing measurement data of the fiber composite component resulting from the measurement, wherein the reference element positioned on the fiber composite component is detected during the measurement, and c) verifying the fiber composite component with respect to a digital model, which contains the fiber composite component produced, as a function of the detected reference element and the measurement data of the measured fiber composite component by means of a computing unit. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that a component-side coordinate system is determined in dependence on the detected reference element, wherein the fiber composite component in dependence on the component-side coordinate system and verifying the survey data with the digital model. A method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that depending on the detected reference element, the fiber composite component is referenced with respect to an external coordinate system, wherein the fiber composite component is verified depending on the referencing of the fiber composite component with the external coordinate system and the survey data with the digital model.

Images