Determinant passively-located pogo machine
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsPaul R. Stone, David E. Strand, Paul E. Nelson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for manufacturing large, semi-flexible metal components includes a fixture that holds the component blank in a desired position for manufacturing operations by accurate numerically controlled machine tools using original numerical part definition records, utilizing spatial relationships between key features of detail parts or subassemblies as represented by coordination features machined into the parts and subassemblies, thereby making the parts and subassemblies intrinsically determinant of the dimensions and contour of the part.
Claims5
A method for positioning flexible or semi-flexible parts in space at desired positions and orientations for manufacturing and assembly operations, comprising:
- positioning a series of part holding devices, one each on the end of a series of respective pogo on at least one movable fixture, in space at desired positions corresponding to points on a contour of one of said parts which is to be engaged by said part holding devices, said positioning of the part holding devices comprising:
- capturing each said part holding device with a capture device on a machine tool;
- physically moving each said captured part holding device along each of three orthogonal axes to said respective desired point position by moving said machine tool and said capture device;
- and
- locking said pogos on which the moved part holding devices are located in the desired positions to which they were moved by said machine tool, and releasing said part holding devices;
- positioning said one part against said part holding devices and holding said one part with said part holding devices in said desired position and orientation while performing manufacturing operations on said one part with said machine tool in juxtaposed relation to said at least one fixture.
A method for positioning flexible or semi-flexible parts in space at desired positions and orientations for manufacturing and assembly operations, comprising:
- positioning a series of part holding devices, each on the end of a pogo on at least one movable fixture, in space at desired positions corresponding to points on a contour of one of said parts which is to be engaged by said part holding devices, said positioning of the part holding devices comprising:
- capturing each said part holding device with a capturing means for capturing the part holding devices, said capturing means being on a machine tool;
- physically moving each said captured part holding device to its respective desired point position by moving said machine tool and said capturing means;
- and
- locking said pogos on which the moved part holding devices are located in the desired positions to which they were moved by said machine tool, and releasing said part holding devices;
- positioning said one part against said part holding devices and holding said one part with said part holding devices in said desired position and orientation while performing manufacturing operations on said one part with said machine tool in juxtaposed relation to said at least one fixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.