Application: Optical Adhesion Inspection

TENTA makes bonding visible. Based on patented optical nano-deformation analysis technology, bonds can be evaluated non-destructively for the first time.

The example shows the in-line application of testing safety-relevant tapes on engine mounts. The robotically guided carrier is presented to TENTA's compact inspection head. The heating module applies a small amount of energy to the tape. The structure is heated by approximately +2K. The resulting structural deformation is recorded with nanometre precision by TENTA's sensor. The test takes place in a fraction of a second and is non-contact.

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The sensor first detects the typical surface characteristics of the tape (images in the right-hand column from top to bottom: presence, positioning, scratches). However, the focus is on the unique adhesion inspection. The evaluation of the adhesive layer below the surface is shown in the large image on the top left.

Adhesion-reducing defects of any kind become visible, e.g. inclusions, impurities or kissing bonds. In this case, the system counts every defect from 0.5 mm lateral size. The decision criteria:

1. If there are defects > 3mm, the tape is rated NOK. These defects are coloured red in the operator visualisation, all smaller defects are coloured green.

2. In addition, if the total defect area (all red and green marks) is greater than 5% of the total belt area, the belt is also rated NOK.

The TENTA software provides evaluation algorithms for the adhesion inspection as well as visualisation layouts. Customised programming is also available.