Abstract:
A system and a method are provided for preparing a composite part for assembly, the method comprising: - placing a preform (189, 189-1) with a manufacturing excess (122, 122-9) upon a mandrel (110, 110-1); - hardening the preform (189, 189-1) into composite part (120, 120-1) with a hardened manufacturing excess (122, 122-9) while still upon mandrel (110, 110-1); and - operating a mandrel work station (130 through 130-8) to install an indexing feature (126, B126) into the manufacturing excess (122, 122-9) of the composite part (120, 120-1) pre-hardening and/or post hardening prior to demolding the composite part (120, 120-1) from mandrel (110, 110-1).
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for trimming a structure (120). One embodiment is a method for fabrication of a structure (120). The method includes advancing the structure (120) in a process direction (199) towards an edge trimming station (140), operating the edge trimming station (140) to remove the manufacturing excess (124), by moving the edge trimming station (140) relative to the structure (120) in the process direction (199).
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for fabricating multiple segment spars for an aircraft. In one example the method includes fabricating preforms of fiber reinforced material for spar segments, hardening the preforms to form the spar segments, and bonding the spar segments together to form a completed spar detail. In addition to bonding, other examples include co-curing and fastening the spar segments. In additional examples, the spar segments include kinks or sub-kinks as described.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for sealing an edge of a structure (120). One embodiment is a method for sealing an edge of a structure (120). The method includes advancing a structure (120) along a track (110, 112) in a process direction (199), aligning an edge sealing station (170) at the track (112) with a final trimmed edge (129) of the structure (120) that was trimmed upstream of the edge sealing station (170), applying an edge sealant (172) to the final trimmed edge (129) of the structure (120), and advancing the structure (120) further in the process direction (199) via the track (112).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for placing a stringer preform upon a wing panel preform, the method comprising: creating a wing panel preform upon a layup mandrel, and applying stringer preforms to the wing panel preform in a single batch placement.
Abstract:
Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for assembling a wing. Methods include coupling a robot arm (750) to a bracket (648) on a rib (572) held against a wing panel (550), and operating the coupled robot arm to install shims (756) between the rib (572) and wing panel (550). Some methods further include mounting (e.g. detachably) the bracket, such as by aligning it with indexing features at the rib. In some methods, the bracket enforces a contour to the rib. Systems include a carriage (764) coupled to a rib (572), and a robot arm (750) extending therefrom that is operable to perform work (e.g. inspection, installing shims and/or fasteners, etc.) at an interface between the rib and a wing panel. Apparatus includes a robot arm dimensioned for placement at an interface between a rib and a wing panel, with the robot arm including an end effector to perform work upon the interface (e.g. inspection, installing shims and/or fasteners, etc.).
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for assembling a structure (120). The systems and method including micro pulsing (181) a structure along a track (110) in a process direction (199) by less than a length (196) of the structure. The structure is indexed (129) to one or more work stations (140) by mating indexing features (124) in a manufacturing excess (125,170,180) of the structure to complementary indexing features (134) at the work stations (140). The work stations would the perform work on the structure at the work stations while the structure is indexed to the work stations. Iteratively repeating the micro pulsing (181) and indexing (129) upon the structure (120) until it is ready to advance to the next assembly process.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for cleaning a structure (120), the method comprising: advancing a structure (120) along a track (112) in a process direction (199), aligning a cleaning station at the track (112) with a final trimmed edge (129) of the structure (120) that was trimmed upstream of the cleaning station (660), removing debris from the final trimmed edge (129) via the cleaning station (660), and advancing the structure (120) further in the process direction (199) via the track (112).
Abstract:
A system and method are provided to automate the assembly of a wing panel, such as utilized by commercial aircraft. In the context of a system, a tacking cell is provided that is configured to tack one or more stringers to a skin plank. The system also includes a riveting cell configured to receive a tacked plank from the tacking cell and to rivet the one or more stringers to the skin plank. The system also includes a splicing cell configured to receive a plurality of riveted planks from the riveting cell and to attach one or more splice stringers to the plurality of riveted planks. Further, the system includes a side of body cell configured to receive a spliced panel from the splicing cell and to attach a side of body chord thereto to produce a wing panel.
Abstract:
A system and method are provided to automate the assembly of a wing panel, such as utilized by commercial aircraft. In the context of a system, a tacking cell is provided that is configured to tack one or more stringers to a skin plank. The system also includes a riveting cell configured to receive a tacked plank from the tacking cell and to rivet the one or more stringers to the skin plank. The system also includes a splicing cell configured to receive a plurality of riveted planks from the riveting cell and to attach one or more splice stringers to the plurality of riveted planks. Further, the system includes a side of body cell configured to receive a spliced panel from the splicing cell and to attach a side of body chord thereto to produce a wing panel.