The Stacking Action In Autoclave Molding And A Process Judgment Analysis Of The Worker

Three-dimensional components which incorporate CFRP are molded by skilled workers manually; this makes quality control difficult. This study discusses how workers' skill influences the mechanical performance of molded products. This study aims to establish qualification criteria and standardize the manufacturing process. Carbon cloth prepreg was stacked in six layers in a mold in a fiber orientation pattern of 0 degrees, 45 degrees, 0 degrees, 0 degrees, 45 degrees, and 0 degrees. The hand lay-up process was applied and subjects chose their own process and tools. Subject A had 13 years of experience and subject B had 1 year of experience. The process was recorded with a video camera and results compared in an interview format, inspecting footage of the process together with the subject. Subject A's movements were very smooth, his body and face close to the mold, whilst subject B's movements were very awkward. Subjects' use of tools and hands were analyzed. In the judgment analysis, subjects were interviewed and their responses analyzed. The subjects' decision-making processes were given numeric values and studied, identifying the critical path. There was a noticeable difference in the subjects' process and a significant difference in the mechanical properties of the molds. This study will be repeated with more subjects in order to identify the various factors. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.