An optical scanner scans a piece support of know thickness holding a cross-section of laminate material such as fiber composite laminate, metal laminates, brazed parts, welded parts, sandwiched parts to determine layer thickness and layer properties such as fiber content, matrix content, density, void content, and other desired properties related to quality control for real time feedback to manufacturing and archiving for future reference. The electronic visual image from the scan depicts the number and quality of pixels in each layer. A programmable data processor uses the scan information and reference data to determine the physical properties and of the stacking order and the fiber orientation of a fiber reinforced laminate, and the thickness of each ply of metal and sandwich laminates as well as bonded, welded and brazed joints and for the determination of the thickness of each ply, of the stacking order and fiber orientation of a fiber reinforced laminate. The processor outputs real time data and a connected data storage memory archives the information for future reference.