Other

The Boeing Company

Jeremiah E Halley

Kevin T Slattery

Philip V Bayly

Jeffery J Luner

Keith Young

A method of constructing a preform for use in forming a machined structural assembly is provided. The method includes determining the dimensions of the machined structural assembly. First and second structural members are selected based on the predetermined dimensions of the machined structural assembly. The first structural member is positioned adjacent the second structural member so as to define at least two contact surfaces. The contact surfaces of the first and second structural members are friction welded to construct the preform such that the preform has dimensions approximating the dimensions of the machined structural assembly to thereby reduce material waste when forming the machined structural assembly. A machined structural assembly having predetermined dimensions is formed from the preform by machining away excess material.

Preforms for forming machined structural assemblies

A force balanced irregular pitch reamer is provided that is particularly well suited for precision operations requiring small tolerances. More specifically, a reamer is provided having a shank, a body portion, and a plurality of cutting teeth extending outwardly therefrom. The teeth are spaced at non-uniform intervals around the body portion, wherein each tooth includes a cutting surface and rake face, and defines a rake angle between the rake face and an imaginary line extending from the central or longitudinal axis of the reamer to the cutting surface. In operation, the reamer is rotated about its central axis and is plunged into a formed hole sized slightly smaller than the reamer such that the reamer engages the workpiece and produces a smooth finished hole. Each tooth generates a cutting force with determinable magnitude and direction to define cutting force vectors. Advantageously, the reamer of the present invention includes teeth having rake angles cooperatively formed such that the cutting force vectors are substantially offset by one another, thus balancing the reamer and providing a finished hole that is substantially free from any lobes and is properly sized.

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St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Jeremiah E Halley