SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLY MANUFACTURING

• Main Authors: Batt, Edward J, Micale, Antonio C, Reid, Eric M, Desjardien, Matthew R
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 30.05.2019
• Subjects: AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES; COMBINED OPERATIONS; COSMONAUTICS; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING ORREPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FORGE FURNACES; FORGING; GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLYADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; HAMMERING; HAND TOOLS; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFTCOMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MACHINE TOOLS; MANIPULATORS; MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVINGMATERIAL; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; OTHER WORKING OF METAL; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; PRESSING METAL; PUNCHING METAL; RIVETING; TRANSPORTING; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS

A method for assembly manufacturing including positioning a workpiece in an assembly position within an operational cell, positioning a fastening machine relative to the workpiece, wherein the fastening machine includes a robot frame comprising a throat, an assembly end effector coupled to the frame about the throat, and a plurality of linear actuators coupled to the frame, moving, by the plurality of linear actuators, the fastening machine about at least one of six degrees of freedom to receive at least a portion of the workpiece within the throat and position the assembly end effector relative to the workpiece, and performing, by the fastening machine, a fastening operation on the workpiece.