Conforming components using reverse engineering

A method for conforming components, comprising:

• measuring a first feature of a first component using a conforming tool;
• recording position data for the first feature based on the measuring;
• providing a path for the conforming tool using the position data;
• and
• forming a second feature on a second component that conforms to the first feature on the first component by moving the same conforming tool based on the provided path.

An apparatus for conforming components, the apparatus comprising:

• a conforming tool for measuring a first component;
• a controller for providing a path for the conforming tool to modify a second component based on the measuring;
• and
• a driver for moving the same conforming tool along the provided path for modifying the second component.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a computer recordable medium storing computer usable program code for conforming components, the computer program product comprising:
• computer usable program code for measuring a first component using a conforming tool;
• computer usable program code for recording position data for the first component based on the measuring;
• computer usable program code for providing a path for the conforming tool using the position data;
• and
• computer usable program code for modifying a second component by moving the same conforming tool based on the provided path.

A method for conforming holes on aircraft components, comprising:

• measuring a first hole of a first aircraft component with a measuring member attached to an arm of a robot;
• recording position data for the first hole based on the measuring;
• providing a map of the first hole from the recorded position data;
• modifying a CAD file using the map;
• creating a numerically controlled path for the robot based on the CAD file;
• and
• downloading the numerically controlled path to the robot;
• removing the measuring member from the arm of the robot to expose a drill also attached to the arm of the robot;
• and
• drilling a second hole on a second aircraft component that conforms to the first hole on the first aircraft component by moving the drill also attached to the arm of the robot based on the downloaded numerically controlled path.