Systems and methods for shaping a part
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorNicholas Allan Norman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and devices of shaping a part during a manufacturing process. The devices include a contouring unit that applies a force to one or more contact points of an index section of the part, and a measuring unit that measures a shape of a virtual index section of the part. The methods include applying a force to the index section of the part and shaping the separate the virtual index section of the part. The shaping can shape the virtual index section to a target shape.
Claims20
A system to shape a part during a manufacturing process, the system comprising:
- actuators that are spaced apart at contact points along a first index section of the part;
- sensors configured to detect a shape of a second index section of the part, each of the first index section and the second index section being along the part with the second index section being spaced away from the contact points of the first index section;
- and
- a control unit configured to apply forces to the contact points of the first index section through the actuators to change a shape of the second index section, the control unit comprising:
- a memory circuit that comprises programming instructions;
- and
- a processing circuit that controls the actuators based on the programing instructions,
- wherein the programming instructions comprise a nominal stiffness model comprising an expected amount of change of the shape of the second index section based on the forces that are applied to the contact points of the first index section.
A system to shape a part during a manufacturing process, the system comprising:
- actuators that are spaced apart at contact points along a first index section of the part;
- sensors configured to detect a shape of a second index section of the part, each of the first index section and the second index section being along the part with the second index section being spaced away from the first index section;
- and
- a control unit configured to apply forces to the contact points of the first index section through the actuators to change a shape of the second index section, the control unit comprising a processing circuit that controls the actuators based on a nominal stiffness model comprising an expected amount of change of the shape of the second index section based on the forces that are applied to the contact points of the first index section.
A system to shape a part during a manufacturing process, the system comprising:
- arms configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position, the arms spaced apart at contact points along a first index section of the part;
- sensors configured to detect a shape of a second index section of the part, each of the first index section and the second index section being along the part with the second index section being spaced away from the contact points of the first index section;
- and
- a control unit configured to apply forces to the contact points of the first index section through the arms to change a shape of the second index section, the control unit comprising:
- a memory circuit that comprises programming instructions;
- and
- a processing circuit that controls the arms based on the programing instructions, wherein the programming instructions comprise a nominal stiffness model comprising an expected amount of change of the shape of the second index section based on the forces that are applied to the contact points of the first index section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.