The Boeing Company

Theboeing Company

James Alan Aske

Jake Aspen Wilson

Andrew John Ponton

Robert Alan Smith

John Eric Miller

Tyler Emerson Berkey

Mark Edward Nestleroad

Matthew J Berden

Systems, methods and computer program products for laser etching and robotic machining of large workpieces are disclosed. An example system includes a first ring of lasers configured to etch longitudinal gridlines on a workpiece, a second ring of lasers configured to etch circumferential gridlines on the workpiece, where the longitudinal gridlines and the circumferential gridlines define a working grid on the workpiece, and a machine vision system to scan the working grid and compare the working grid to a reference grid in a computer model of the workpiece and to determine offsets between the working grid and the reference grid for positioning a robotic machining tool.

Laser-etching and machine-vision positioning system

A fastener system, which includes a fastener with an RFID tag secured to the fastener, wherein the RFID tag includes an antenna communicatively coupled to an integrated circuit which includes a memory. The fastener system further includes an operating system device, which transmits a command signal containing logistics data to the antenna of the RFID tag wherein the antenna receives the command signal and communicates the command signal containing the logistics data to the integrated circuit.

Intelligent fasteners

Embodiments herein provide drill hole location transfer between remote components. One embodiment is an apparatus for replicating drill holes of a first workpiece on a second workpiece remotely located from the first workpiece. The apparatus includes an interface to receive coordinate data of first alignment pins installed to first template holes of a first drill plate, and a receptacle to receive a second drill plate having second template holes that match a pattern of the first templates holes of the first drill plate. A pin setting device moves a reference member in a plane over the receptacle, and positions the reference member with respect to the second drill plate based on the coordinate data of the first alignment pins, thus indicating locations within the second template holes to position drill bushings for replicating the first holes of the first workpiece on the second workpiece.

Replicated hole pattern for remotely located structural components

A tool for use in installing a bulkhead within a structure is provided. The tool includes a base member configured to couple to the structure, and a positioning member configured to couple to the bulkhead. The base member includes a primary fastener hole sized to receive at least a portion of a fastener therethrough, and sized such that the fastener is configured to bias against the base member to retract the positioning member towards the base member when the fastener is engaged with the positioning member.

Growing community of inventors

Hanahan, SC, United States of America

James Alan Aske