Component repair using reverse engineering
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsPhillip John Crothers, Robert Coulter Fraser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for modifying a component may comprise measuring the component using a modifying tool, and recording position data for the component based on the measuring. A path for the modifying tool may be provided using the position data, and the component may be modified by moving the same modifying tool based on the provided path.
Claims25
A method for modifying a component, comprising:
- measuring the component using a modifying tool;
- recording position data for the component based on the measuring;
- providing a path for the modifying tool using the position data;
- and
- modifying the component by moving the same modifying tool based on the provided path.
A method for modifying a surface of a component formed of composite material, comprising:
- measuring a surface of a component to be modified using a modifying tool;
- recording position data for the surface of the component based on the measuring;
- providing a path for the modifying tool using the position data;
- and
- modifying the surface of the component by moving the same modifying tool based on the provided path.
An apparatus for modifying a component, the apparatus comprising:
- a modifying tool for measuring the component;
- a controller for providing a path for the modifying tool to modify the component based on the measuring;
- and
- a driver for moving the same modifying tool along the provided path for modifying the component.
A computer program product, comprising:
- a computer recordable medium storing computer usable program code for modifying a component, the computer program product comprising:
- computer usable program code for measuring the component using a modifying tool;
- computer usable program code for recording position data for the component based on the measuring;
- computer usable program code for providing a path for the modifying tool using the position data;
- and
- computer usable program code for modifying the component by moving the same modifying tool based on the provided path.
An apparatus for modifying a component, the apparatus comprising:
- a robot having a robot arm;
- a measuring tool on the robot arm for measuring a surface of the component to provide surface measurements;
- a machining tool on the robot arm for machining the surface of the component;
- a controller for receiving the surface measurements and for providing a path for the machining tool to modify the component based on the surface measurements;
- and
- a robot driver for moving the machining tool on the provided path for modifying the component, wherein the measuring tool comprises a sleeve that surrounds the machining tool during measuring of the surface of the component, and which has a contact tip positioned at a fixed position with respect to a contact tip of the machining tool when the measuring tool surrounds the machining tool, and wherein the measuring tool is removed from the robot arm to expose the machining tool during modifying of the component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.