X-Band Insertion Loss Process Control Measurement System

This paper discusses the development and integration of an automated positioning system with a X-Band Insertion Loss (IL) measurement system. The system operates as an In-Line feedback controller to manufacture Stealthy web materials, which are later formed into loaded honeycomb core. Customized software positions two X-Band antennas at user-defined locations to retrieve real-time transmission IL data from a Hewlett-Packard (HP) Network Analyzer. The operator can alter real-time processing variables such as the web's line speed by observing IL data displayed in HP Basic Windows graphics format on a 486 PC. At a run's conclusion the software exports data to a Statistical Process Control (SPC) software package to highlight web areas exhibiting out of control conditions.