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Technology update
Automated aircraft skin polishing
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Robomatiks' automated polishing system.
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The Boeing Co. Wichita, KS, plant has received a next-generation automated polishing system from Robomatiks, Inc., a subsidiary of Utica Enterprises Inc. The polishing system was conceptualized, designed, manufactured, and installed at the Boeing plant to support the NG-737 aircraft's high production quantities of 24 units per month. Each ship set contains 52 skins measuring from 8-34 ft in length that need to be polished. The system is also capable of performing the tasks on 777 skin panels as well as other current and future skin panel designs.
The system's work center consists of two cells, designated east and west, each with two gantries per cell. Each gantry has three main axes and a polish head.
Many material-handling functions are also automated within the polishing system, such as transfer storage and retrieval for all part/tool movement in and out of the cell. Engineered Machine Tool designed and built a tool storage and retrieval system for the Robomatiks polishing system. The storage and retrieval equipment are designed to handle Boeing's work-holding fixtures, which can measure up to 35 ft in length, 9 ft in width, and 3.5 ft in height and weigh up to 10,000 lb. The system is capable of handling up to 21 tool pallets - 15 dedicated for 737 skin panel fixtures and six for 777 panel fixtures. It includes a designated storage bay for each of the pallets and two load/unload stations for incoming and outgoing materials. Tool pallets are stored in a four-high storage rack configuration, with the first level being below floor level, requiring a 6.5-ft deep pit.
A cell controller tracks the status of the parts as they move through the cell. It also stores information on the tool pallet locations, fixtures located on the pallets, and the part status (unpolished or polished). There are three operator control stations located in the cell - one at the polish machine control center, and one at each of the load/unload stations.
Boeing's previous polishing system took from 3-6 h to complete a tool change. With the new system a tool change can be completed in less than 15 minutes.
The polishing facility also contains a ventilation/filtration system, vacuum system, and residue containment enclosure.
Frank Bokulich
Aerospace Engineering April 2000
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