Master application paths for coatings
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsFredrick Carl Rudnick, III, Robert Stephen Strong, Dennis R. Mathis, Paul J. Shirron
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of applying a coating to at least a portion of a surface of a structure using reusable master path rules. The surface of the structure is identified to form surface data. A framework for the surface of the structure is generated using the surface data. The framework comprises a plurality of points. Reusable master path rules are created for a master path connecting the plurality of points. The master path is a continuous line representing a universal route for applying coatings to the surface. The coating is applied to the at least a portion of the surface of the structure using the reusable master path rules.
Claims20
A method of applying a coating to at least a portion of a surface of a structure using reusable master path rules, the method comprising:
- identifying the surface of the structure to form surface data;
- generating a framework for the surface of the structure using the surface data, wherein the framework comprises a plurality of points, and wherein a first spacing for the plurality of points is chosen based on a size of a plume for applying the coating;
- creating reusable master path rules for a master path connecting the plurality of points, wherein the reusable master path rules are a set of universal rules for coatings to be applied to the surface, and wherein the master path is a continuous line representing a universal route for applying the coatings to the surface;
- and
- applying the coating to the at least a portion of the surface of the structure using the reusable master path rules.
A method of applying a coating to at least a portion of a surface of a structure using reusable master path rules, the method comprising:
- selecting an area of the surface of the structure to define a selected surface, wherein a plurality of points forms a framework for the surface, wherein a first spacing for the plurality of points is chosen based on a size of a plume for applying the coating;
- identifying a subset of the plurality of points associated with the selected surface;
- generating a path connecting the subset of the plurality of points using the reusable master path rules for the surface, wherein the reusable master path rules are a set of universal rules for coatings to be applied to the surface;
- and
- applying a coating to the selected surface using the path.
A system for applying a coating to at least a portion of a surface of a structure using reusable master path rules, the system comprising:
- a framework generator configured to generate a framework for the surface of the structure using surface data, wherein the framework comprises a plurality of points, and wherein a first spacing for the plurality of points is chosen based on a size of a plume for applying the coating;
- a master path generator configured to create reusable master path rules for a master path connecting the plurality of points, wherein the reusable master path rules are a set of universal rules for coatings to be applied to the surface, and wherein the master path is a continuous line representing a universal route for applying the coatings to the surface;
- and
- a controller configured to control an application tool to apply the coating to the at least a portion of the surface of the structure using the reusable master path rules.
A system for applying a coating to at least a portion of a surface of a structure using reusable master path rules, the system comprising:
- a path generator configured to identify a subset of a plurality of points associated with a selected surface and generate a path connecting the subset of the plurality of points, wherein the selected surface is an area of the surface of the structure, wherein the plurality of points forms a framework for the surface, wherein a first spacing for the plurality of points is chosen based on a size of a plume for applying the coating, wherein generating the path connecting the subset of the plurality of points uses the reusable master path rules for the surface, and wherein the reusable master path rules are a set of universal rules for coatings to be applied to the surface;
- and
- a controller configured to control an application tool to apply the coating to the selected surface using the path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.