SS-OCT technology brings a long-sought solution for the composite manufacturing industry

The SS-OCT technology offers a significant solution to a long-standing goal of the composite industry: the online monitoring of the automated fiber placement (AFP) process. AFP is an additive manufacturing technique used to produce complex composite components for the aerospace industry. Online inspection presents several challenges, including high deposition rates, low diffuse reflectivity of materials, and the need to integrate the inspection system into an already complex manufacturing setup. In this study, we showcase how SS-OCT technology effectively overcomes these challenges, enabling efficient online inspection.