Method, System and Apparatus for Assembling a Composite Wing Skin with Stiffeners

An assembly system for forming composite wing skin, the system comprising:

• a jig apparatus comprising (i) a frame with a working surface, (ii) a plurality of indexing blocks coupled to the working surface of the frame, wherein each of the plurality of indexing blocks has a first indexing surface oriented perpendicular to the working surface of the frame and a second indexing surface oriented parallel to the working surface of the frame and (iii) a plurality of clamping blocks each moveably coupled to one of the plurality of indexing blocks, wherein each of the plurality of clamping blocks has a clamping surface oriented perpendicular to the working surface of the frame and in facing relation to the first indexing surface of an adjacent indexing block thereby defining a plurality of channels;
• a platform moveable between a first end of the jig apparatus and a second end of the jig apparatus;
• a bag treatment coupled to at least the first end of the jig apparatus such that the bag treatment lies adjacent to one or more of the second indexing surfaces of the plurality of indexing blocks;
• and
• a cavitation tool having a protrusion configured to be received within each of the plurality of channels.

A method for forming a composite wing skin, the method comprising:

• providing a jig apparatus comprising (i) a frame with a working surface, (ii) a plurality of indexing blocks coupled to the working surface of the frame, wherein each of the plurality of indexing blocks has a first indexing surface oriented perpendicular to the working surface of the frame and a second indexing surface oriented parallel to the working surface of the frame and (iii) a plurality of clamping blocks each moveably coupled to one of the plurality of indexing blocks, wherein each of the plurality of clamping blocks has a clamping surface oriented perpendicular to the working surface of the frame and in facing relation to the first indexing surface of an adjacent indexing block thereby defining a plurality of channels, wherein a first indexing block of the plurality of indexing blocks and a first clamping block of the plurality of clamping blocks are arranged at a first end of the jig apparatus and define a first channel;
• coupling a bag treatment to at least the first end of the jig apparatus such that the bag treatment lies adjacent to one or more of the second indexing surfaces of the plurality of indexing blocks;
• pressing a protrusion of a cavitation tool against the bag treatment and into the first channel;
• removing the protrusion of the cavitation tool from the first channel such that the bag treatment remains in the first channel;
• pressing an extension portion of a first stiffener into the first channel;
• and
• moving the first clamping block from an open position to a clamped position thereby locking the first stiffener in place in the first channel.