Masterbox: new concept for a dynamic autoclave process control

Abstract

A new concept for autoclave process control is being presented, which is currently developed in the DLR’s (German Aerospace Centre) project OnQA (Online quality Assurance in Autoclave processing) in the new Centre for Lightweight-Production-Technology in Stade. The concept is based on sensors obtaining quality-relevant process parameters and a real time process simulation able to predict multiple scenarios of different control strategies. The so called MASTERBOX is the centre piece of this new process control concept. It serves as interface between the sensors including the data acquisition, the process simulation and the real autoclave and takes decisions for the process control based on sensor data, simulation results and databases. This intelligent process control will be able to react to process and product deviations leading to an enormous reduction of scrap parts. Also as the process is controlled directly in function of the product’s qualitydevelopment, the process time can be reduced dramatically. Due to the fact that the quality-assurance is performed online during the process, the inline or offline part inspection could be reduced as well.