The Boeing Company

Eric E Moyes

Daniel David Bloch

Randall Dow Wilkerson

Zachary L Green

Samuel Joseph Easley

Camille Doristine Carter

Nicole Renee Williams

Zachary Benjamin Renwick

Timothy J Luchini

Roger Alan Burgess

Charles A Rhodes

Scott E Martin

Gregory J S Hickman

John Emil Larson

Travis R Adams

Benjamin Richards

Juliette Dubon

Augustus J Ellis

Adam Martinez

Nicole R Williams

Gregory JS Hickman

A system and method for removing a backing from a ply of composite material is disclosed. The system includes a roller having a roller axis and a roller surface that circumscribes the roller axis. The system also includes an adhesion feature disposed on the roller surface. The system further includes a roller drive to move the roller along a travel path that is perpendicular to the roller axis and to rotate the roller about the roller axis.

Systems and methods for removing a backing from a ply of composite material

A manufacturing method includes locking a material to be cut against a cutting bed, stabilizing the material against the cutting bed, and cutting the material.

Stabilizing shoe, manufacturing apparatus, and manufacturing method

Methods and apparatus for semi-automated tack welding of plies of a thermoplastic composite layup are described. An example welding tool includes a stabilization foot, a housing, a compaction foot, and a welder. The stabilization foot has a stabilization surface. The housing has a central axis. The housing is movable relative to the stabilization surface along the central axis of the housing. The compaction foot has a central axis and a compaction surface. The compaction surface is movable relative to the stabilization surface and to the housing along the central axis of the compaction surface. The welder has a central axis and a welding surface. The welding surface is movable relative to the stabilization surface, to the housing, and to the compaction surface along the central axis of the welder.

Methods and apparatus for semi-automated tack welding of plies of a thermoplastic composite layup

Multifunction end effector apparatus and methods for assembling thermoplastic composite articles are disclosed. An example apparatus for assembling a thermoplastic composite article includes a robot and an end effector coupled to the robot. The end effector includes a cutting head, a vacuum head, and a welding head.

Multifunction end effector apparatus and methods for assembling thermoplastic composite articles

End effectors having compaction feet for welding thermoplastic parts of thermoplastic composite laminated articles are described. An example end effector is to be coupled to a robot. The end effector includes a welding head. The welding head includes a welder having a first central axis and a compaction foot having a second central axis. The welder is movable along the first central axis between a first retracted position and a first extended position relative to a surface of the end effector. The compaction foot circumscribes the welder and is movable along the second central axis between a second retracted position and a second extended position relative to the surface.

End effectors having compaction feet for welding thermoplastic parts

End effectors having reconfigurable vacuum heads for picking up thermoplastic parts of thermoplastic composite laminated articles are described. An example end effector is to be coupled to a robot. The end effector includes a first vacuum head having a first vacuum surface. The first vacuum head is to pick up a thermoplastic part in response to a first vacuum force applied at the first vacuum surface. The end effector further includes a second vacuum head having a second vacuum surface. The second vacuum head is to assist the first vacuum head in picking up the thermoplastic part in response to a second vacuum force applied at the second vacuum surface. The end effector further includes an arm to adjustably position the second vacuum head relative to the first vacuum head. The second vacuum head is coupled to the arm, and the arm is movable relative to the first vacuum head.

End effectors having reconfigurable vacuum heads

A vacuum table for securing a sheet of material. The vacuum table includes a top plate that is porous, a perimeter vacuum chamber disposed beneath a perimeter of the top plate, and interior vacuum chambers bound by the perimeter vacuum chamber and disposed beneath a target area of the top plate that is inside the perimeter of the top plate.

Vacuum table with individual vacuum chambers

Growing community of inventors

Desoto, MO, United States of America

Eric E Moyes