Positioning variation analysis and control for automated drilling in aircraft manufacturing

Abstract

Purpose

Aircraft assembly demands high position accuracy of drilled fastener holes. Automated drilling is a key technology to fulfill the requirement. The purpose of the paper is to conduct positioning variation analysis and control for an automated drilling to achieve a high positioning accuracy.

Design/methodology/approach

The nominal and varied connective models of automated drilling are constructed for positioning variation analysis regarding automated drilling. The principle of a strategy for reducing positioning variation in drilling, which shortens the positioning variation chain with the aid of an industrial camera-based vision system, is explored. Moreover, other strategies for positioning variation control are developed based on mathematical analysis to further reduce the position errors of the drilled fastener holes.

Findings

The propagation and accumulation of an automated drilling system’s positioning variation are explored. The principle of reducing positioning variation in an automated drilling using a monocular vision system is discussed from the view of variation chain.

Practical implications

The strategies for reducing positioning variation, rooted in the constructed positioning variation models, have been applied to a machine-tool based automated drilling system. The system is developed for a wing assembly of an aircraft in the Aviation Industry Corporation of China.

Originality/value

Propagation, accumulation and control of positioning variation in an automated drilling are comprehensively explored. Based on this, the positioning accuracy in an automated drilling is controlled below 0.13 mm, which can meet the requirement for the assembly of the aircraft.

Citation

Mei, B., Zhu, W. and Ke, Y. (2018), "Positioning variation analysis and control for automated drilling in aircraft manufacturing", Assembly Automation, Vol. 38 No. 4, pp. 412-419. https://doi.org/10.1108/AA-01-2018-009