Advanced rotor blade manufacturing using LAP’s laser projection system COMPOSITE PRO

The manual lay-up of composites parts for rotor blades is time- and cost-consuming, especially when using physical templates or manual measurement techniques. Laser projection systems supersede these laborious tasks. LAP offers a turnkey solution that helps wind turbine manufacturers to optimize their rotor blade production significantly.

LAP has created a specific solution to address the needs of the composite market. The LAP COMPOSITE PRO solution includes everything needed to support hand lay-up processes of composite manufacturing. One projection system consists of one or more LAP CAD-PRO laser projectors and the LAP PRO-SOFT laser projection software. Even at large distances, high-precision CAD-PRO laser projectors enable true-to-size display of laser outlines on GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) and carbon fiber mats. Laser lines are generated based upon existing CAD data. Objects may be precisely aligned and positioned without physical templates or measurement.

The system is complemented by the user-friendly LAP PRO-SOFT software compatible with the major CAD file formats. The software visualizes and documents defined projection steps and can be simply and intuitively operated via keyboard, tablet PC or remote control. For large objects like rotor blades, the multitasking version PRO-SOFT MT allows several teams to work simultaneously. The whole production process benefits from laser technology by saving time and resources, improving process reliability, increasing accuracy and optimizing throughput.

For even higher reliability during manufacturing, LAP has expanded its successful product family of CAD-PRO laser projectors to include new models with a green laser diode: The CAD-PRO LD green has a laser source with up to 30,000 hours of operating time - three times the service life of conventional DPSS laser modules. In addition, the unit features optimal visibility of the projected laser lines especially on dark surfaces. The CAD-PRO with green laser diode is perfectly suited for projections from large distance. This applies specifically to objects such as rotor blades of wind turbines, since the laser projectors are often installed at great height in the factory halls.