Compound shimming
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsAshleigh Nesbit, Thomas Wilson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a method. The method includes identifying a first location on a first part to place a first shim tab to form a first portion of a compound shim. The method also includes applying the first shim tab to the first location on the first part with an end-effector. The method also includes identifying a second location directly adjacent to the first location on the first part to place a second shim tab. The method also includes applying the second shim tab to the second location on the first part with the end-effector to form a second portion of the compound shim. The method also includes applying a third shim tab to the second shim tab at the second location to increase a thickness of the second portion of the compound shim.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- identifying a first location on a first part to place a first shim tab to form a first portion of a compound shim;
- applying the first shim tab to the first location on the first part with an end-effector;
- identifying a second location directly adjacent to the first location on the first part to place a second shim tab;
- applying the second shim tab to the second location on the first part with the end-effector to form a second portion of the compound shim;
- and
- applying a third shim tab to the second shim tab at the second location to increase a thickness of the second portion of the compound shim.
An apparatus comprising:
- a supply structure carrying a first shim tab, a second shim tab, and a third shim tab;
- and
- an applicator to:
- receive the first shim tab from the supply structure;
- apply the first shim tab to a first location on a part;
- receive the second shim tab from the supply structure;
- apply the second shim tab to a second location directly adjacent to the first location on the part to form a compound shim;
- receive the third shim tab from the supply structure;
- and
- apply the third shim tab to the second shim tab at the second location.
A system comprising:
- an assembly jig to secure a first part;
- an inspection module to generate inspection data describing a surface characteristic of at least the first part at a joining region where the first part is to be joined with a second part;
- a control module to generate a compound shim plan corresponding to the joining region of the first part based on the inspection data;
- a multi-axis arm to move relative to the assembly jig in response to input from the control module;
- and
- an end-effector coupled to the multi-axis arm to:
- receive a first shim tab at an applicator of the end-effector;
- align the applicator with the joining region on the first part;
- apply the first shim tab to the joining region of the first part at a first location of the compound shim plan with the applicator;
- receive a second shim tab at the applicator of the end-effector;
- apply the second shim tab to the joining region of the first part at a second location of the compound shim plan with the applicator, the second shim tab forming a pattern with the first shim tab;
- receive a third shim tab at the applicator of the end-effector;
- and
- apply the third shim tab to the second shim tab at the second location of the compound shim plan with the applicator to increase a thickness at the second location according to the compound shim plan.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.