Northrop Corporation

Larry L Carver

Charles E Zamzow

Donald D Mladenoff

Glenn A Lovrien

A tool system for an integrated manufacturing and assembly system includes a plurality of profile boards which are connected together with connector boards. The profile board include a profile edge which define a mold line surface. Each of the profile boards includes a slot for each connector board which is connected to it. Each connector board includes a slot for each profile board which is connected to it. Each slot in both of the profile and the connector boards has opposing edges. One of these opposing edges serves as a locator edge for precisely and accurately positioning the respective profile boards to the connector boards and the respective connector boards to the profile boards. The other edge of the respective slots serves as a non-locator edge. Wedges fitting against the non-locator edges are used to fixedly maintaining the profile boards connected to the connector boards.

Assembly data model tool system

A method of manufacturing an article includes constructing a definition of the article in a computer memory and further defining in the computer memory from the definition of the article, a plurality of tools for forming component parts of the article. The definition of the plurality of tools is downloaded to a tool forming device which is then operated to form the plurality of tools. The component parts of the article are then formed utilizing the plurality of tools.

Integrated manufacturing system

A manufacturing system includes a 3-dimensional computer system having memory. A graphics definition of an article is located in the system memory. The computer system includes an interface for defining a graphics virtual surface in the system memory. The computer system further includes computer aided design software for generating a graphics virtual member in the system memory where the virtual member incorporates at least a portion of the graphic virtual surface. Additionally the computer system includes computer aided manufacturing software for generating manufacturing instructions for manufacturing a tangible member corresponding to the virtual member. A numerically controlled machine tool suitable for machining the tangible part is interfaced with the computer system for receiving a control program corresponding to the manufacturing instruction for production of the tangible part by the numerically controlled machine tool.

Assembly data model system

A method of manufacturing aircraft includes constructing a definition of the aircraft in a computer memory and then defining in the memory a first tool for forming a component part of the aircraft and a second tool for assembling a component part made with the first tool. The definitions of the first and second tools are downloaded to a tool forming device which is operated to form the first and second tools essentially independent from one another.

Integrated aircraft manufacturing system

A method of assembling the separate components of a multi-component article includes generating a master definition of the article as a graphic data set in a 3-dimensional graphics computer system including coordinate points precisely locating the design definition in a three dimensional coordinate system. Data sub sets of the master definition are selected for component parts of the article including coordinate points. The data sub sets are transferred to a tool and component parts of the article are formed on the tool utilizing the data sub sets. The formed parts include physical markings thereon corresponding to the coordinate points of the master design definition. The data sub set are further downloaded to a microprocessor controlled measuring device. The measuring device is calibrated to the master design definition utilizing the physical markings on one of the parts. Further of the parts are then located with respect to other of the parts by utilizing their physical markings and referencing these marking back to the master design definition via the microprocessor controlled measuring device.

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Manhattan Beach, CA, United States of America

Larry L Carver