Method for Determining the “Long Term Waviness” of Large SMC-Panels

A new method is described for determining the long term waviness of large and shaped body panels made from SMC or other materials.

Line tracing with a digital length gauge is used in combination with a computer to recreate characteristic profile graphs of the range of surface structure determined by the plastic. The graphs have straight mean lines, independent from the original panel shape and cover up to more than 1 m in length.

A “quality index” is defined. It is used for the quantitative assessment of the optical quality of the surface.

Furthermore the computer programm permits an enlargement of interesting details of the measured panel lines.