Model-Based Quality Control System for Error Reduction in the Thermoforming Process

Model-based quality control has the potential to reduce the reject rate in the production of fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) components. After all the cross-market establishment of FRP, undesirable quality deviations often occur with new materials or component shapes. The quality control uses the component quality (e.g. component angle, crystallinity, fiber orientation, pore content) as the control variable. As a key component of the control, a process model is developed to link the process parameters (press pressure, press duration and tool temperature) with the quality parameters. Knowledge of the process-determining cause-effect relationships is necessary to ensure that different quality parameters are in the target value at the same time. Based on experimental tests, these interrelationships are determined using methods of statistical test planning and serve as the basis for model-based quality control. As a result, it has been shown that the targeted control of the component angle is possible in a range of about ±1° by using the control parameters, tool temperature and pressure, which have a significant influence on the quality. In the next step, further quality characteristics are included in the control system in order to demonstrate the ability to control the quality of complex component specifications. Model-based quality control is particularly promising for the reduction of the process run-in phase and thus for the reduction of the reject rate.