ABSTRACT
The inspection operation is to determine how well the manufactured details and assemblies agree with the specific dimensions and material requirements called out on the drawings. The inspection operation has been expanded to the point of reviewing the engineering drawings in development to make sure that the bonded assemblies can be inspected, and the tooling design is reviewed. The bonding tools must be compatible with the design. The one most vital key to successful adhesive bonding is to have a design assembly of mostly flexible details. A common type of bonding tool has a solid plate or base sheet which is used to lay the parts on. A complete lack of filleting or a visible gap reveals a lack of pressure due to possible poor fitting details or bonding tools, or a leak in a vacuum bag, or the inclusion of a foreign particle. Visual inspection is the best of all non-destructive inspection techniques for bonded joints.
