System for automated analysis of 3D fiber orientation in short fiber composites
US5841892A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 13, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 24, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 13, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2207/30124
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for determining the Fiber Orientation Distribution (FOD) in an injection molded polymer is described. The transparent sample (12) is comprised of a matrix material, reinforcing fibers and opaque tracer fibers (12A) which are analyzed to determine the FOD and the fiber length of all fibers in the sample. The sample is formed in an injection molding apparatus (14) which includes an injection mold (16) and an injection molding unit (34). The sample is constructed and placed in the imaging apparatus (58) in order to be optically sectioned. The imaging apparatus includes an inverted microscope (60), a camera with a controller (62), a motion controller board (64) and a frame grabber (66). The sample is scanned along three (3) axes in x-y plane in the field of view of the microscope at increasing depths in the sample along the z-axis which is the line of sight of the microscope. The 3D images are analyzed to determine the FOD and fiber length of the fibers in the sample. The apparatus and method are controlled by a computer (100) using a series of programs. The programs include the Chop program, the Step program, the Acquire program, the Motion Controller and Frame…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.