US 11,806,832 B2
Method and system for determining a level of a sanding surface preparation of a carbon fiber composite surface prior to a post-processing operation
Eileen O. Kutscha, Seattle, WA (US); and Kay Y. Blohowiak, Issaquah, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/173,016.
Application 18/173,016 is a continuation of application No. 16/274,184, filed on Feb. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0211460 A1, Jul. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 21/35 (2014.01); B24B 49/12 (2006.01); G01N 21/3563 (2014.01); G01N 21/84 (2006.01)
CPC B24B 49/12 (2013.01) [G01N 21/3563 (2013.01); G01N 2021/3595 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8411 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8444 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8472 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A quantitative method for determining a level of a sanding surface preparation of a carbon fiber composite surface, prior to the carbon fiber composite surface undergoing a post-processing operation, the quantitative method comprising:
fabricating a ladder panel of a plurality of levels of sanding correlating to an amount of sanding of sanding surface preparation standards for a reference carbon fiber composite surface of one or more reference carbon fiber composite structures;
using one or more surface analysis tools comprising one of, a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, an optically stimulated electron emission (OSEE) sensor, or an optical interferometer, to create one or more target values for quantifying each of the plurality of levels of sanding of the sanding surface preparation standards;
measuring, with the one or more surface analysis tools, one or more sanding surface preparation locations on the carbon fiber composite surface of a test carbon fiber composite structure, to obtain one or more test result measurements;
comparing each of the one or more test result measurements to the plurality of levels of sanding of the sanding surface preparation standards, to obtain one or more test result levels of the sanding surface preparation of the test carbon fiber composite structure;
determining if the one or more test result levels of the sanding surface preparation meet the one or more target values, to determine whether the carbon fiber composite surface is sanded or unsanded, and to determine the level of sanding correlating to the amount of sanding of the sanding surface preparation of the carbon fiber composite surface; and
determining whether the carbon fiber composite surface of the test carbon fiber composite structure is acceptable to proceed with undergoing the post-processing operation.