The Boeing Company

Cav Advanced Technologies Limited

Martin Wood

Charles William Rust

John A Weidler

John Alfred Weidler, Iii

A perforation forming system includes a laser device and a control unit operably connected to the laser device. The control unit is configured to control the laser device to laser drill a plurality of perforations through a lipskin that has a curved contour. The lipskin includes a metallic coating that defines an exterior surface of the lipskin and a composite panel that defines an interior surface of the lipskin. The control unit is configured to form the perforations by controlling the laser device to emit laser beams that impinge upon the interior surface of the lipskin and penetrate the composite panel before penetrating the metallic coating.

Method for producing a perforated nacelle inlet assembly

A method for producing a nacelle inlet assembly includes forming a composite panel that has a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) material. The composite panel is formed to have a curved contour that represents at least a portion of an annular barrel shape. The method includes applying a metallic coating to the composite panel to form a lipskin. The metallic coating is applied such that the metallic coating defines an exterior surface of the lipskin and the composite panel defines an interior surface of the lipskin. The method includes laser drilling a plurality of perforations through the lipskin. The laser drilling involves emitting a laser beam that impinges upon the interior surface of the lipskin and penetrates the CFRP material of the composite panel before penetrating the metallic coating and exiting the lipskin through the exterior surface.

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Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Martin Wood