The Boeing Company

Daniel John Wade

Mathew K Lathrop

Keith A Walton

Alan A Johnson

Michael G Cantiberos

Micah Barrett Fuller

Rogelio Innocencio Garcia

Systems and methods are provided for a caul plate having a feature for removal. One embodiment is a caul plate for forming a composite part. The caul plate includes a body that includes a lower surface which faces the composite part, and an upper surface that is opposite to the lower surface. The caul plate also includes a groove in the upper surface to accept a tool to slide the caul plate laterally from the composite part.

Caul plate with feature for separating from composite part

Systems and methods for a caul plate for an irregular surface. One embodiment is a caul plate for co-curing or co-bonding a first composite part and a second composite part. A body of the caul plate includes a lower surface to face a top surface of the first composite part, a reference edge to locate the second composite part on the first composite part, and an upper surface that is opposite to the lower surface. The lower surface includes one or more bends to match one or more slopes in the top surface of the first composite part. The one or more bends correspond with ply changes in the first composite part.

Caul plate for irregular surface

Systems and methods for forming machine with enhanced setup and health feedback. One embodiment is a forming machine including a positioning system to move a forming member and mandrel relative to one another for forming a shaped part, and a sensor disposed between the forming member and the mandrel. A forming controller obtains a first coordinate position of the forming member and the mandrel in position to produce a target baseline parameter at the sensor prior to placement of a part over the mandrel. The forming controller calculates a second coordinate position of the forming member and the mandrel for forming the part based on the first coordinate position and a thickness of the part. After placement of the part over the mandrel, the forming controller directs the positioning system to move the forming member and the mandrel to the second coordinate position to shape the part.

Forming machine with enhanced setup and health feedback

A method and a check fixture is presented. A part having a number of contiguous coupons is processed using an automated tool. Geometry of the number of contiguous coupons is inspected to produce inspection results. The part is validated using the inspection results.

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Carbonado, WA, United States of America

Daniel John Wade