The Boeing Company

Paul R Arnston

Darrell Darwin Jones

James N Buttrick, Jr

Theodore Martin Boyl-Davis

Roger A Gage

Ronald W Outous

Lyle M Wallace

Robert A Brown

Lance O Mccann

James M Buttrick

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing operations using non-contact position sensing are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a track assembly adapted to be attached to a workpiece, a carriage assembly moveably coupled to the track assembly and moveable relative to the workpiece, and a position sensor. The position sensor includes a sensor element adapted to detect at least one edge of an index feature on the workpiece from a distance away from the index feature. In an alternate embodiment, the position sensor may include a sensing circuit that receives an analog signal from the sensing element and provides both analog and digital output signals. In another embodiment, a controller that controls manufacturing operations may be mounted directly on the carriage assembly.

Methods for manufacturing operations using non-contact position sensing

Growing community of inventors

Bothell, WA, United States of America

Paul R Arnston