APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING THICKNESS CHARACTERISTIC INFORMATION ABOUT AN UNCURED PREPREG MATERIAL

摘要

A method is provided for generating thickness characteristic information about an uncured prepreg material. The uncured prepreg material includes a fabric layer and a first resin layer partially impregnated into the fabric layer. The method includes the steps of introducing an initial energy signal into the uncured prepreg material, receiving at least one reflected energy signal from the uncured prepreg material, and generating the thickness characteristic information about the uncured prepreg material from the at least one reflected energy signal. An apparatus also is provided, which includes an energy generator to generate an initial energy signal for introduction into the uncured prepreg material, an energy receiver to receive at least one reflected energy signal from the uncured prepreg material, and a processor to generate the thickness characteristic information about the uncured prepreg material from the at least one reflected energy signal.