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 A laser ultrasonic technology system developed by LM Aeronautics Company was put to its intended use for the first time in July by inspecting F-22 composite production parts. Known as LaserUT, the system allows complex-contoured composite parts to be inspected affordably and in larger volumes. The F-22 is constructed from a high percentage of graphite-epoxy composite material. Composite parts must be inspected extensively to ensure no flaws exist in their multiple layers.
The LaserUT system, which requires very little set-up time, performs high-resolution inspection in a tenth of the time compared to current water ultrasonic inspection systems. For example, a large section of the F-22 engine inlet duct was recently inspected in less than two hours using LaserUT compared to twenty-four hours with the first-generation inspection equipment. This reduction in inspection time is expected to shorten manufacturing span times by many weeks and realize substantial cost savings over the course of F-22 and JSF production. The accuracy of the system will also help achieve even higher standards of quality. |
