The Boeing Company

Thomas A Maeder

William D Meade

Gary E Georgeson

Hong Hue Tat

Steven Kenneth Brady

Donald Duane Palmer, Jr

Michael C Hutchinson

Jyani S Vaddi

Bharath Kumar Kodumuru

Edward J Kang

Nathan J Chapdelaine

X-ray tomography systems and methods for imaging an aircraft part are disclosed herein. The systems include a part fixture, which is configured to support the aircraft part. The systems also include an x-ray source, which is configured to selectively emit x-rays, and an x-ray detector, which is configured to detect the x-rays. The systems further include a support structure that operatively supports the x-ray source and the x-ray detector such that x-rays emitted by the x-ray source travel along a beam path that is incident upon the x-ray detector and that passes through the aircraft part. The systems also include a rotary scanning structure, which is configured to selectively rotate the support structure about a scan axis, and a longitudinal scanning structure, which is configured to selectively translate the support structure along the scan axis. The methods include methods of utilizing the systems.

X-ray tomography systems and methods for imaging an aircraft part

Systems and methods inspect a fastener installed at least partially through a hole in a part, by measuring fastener concentricity, measuring fastener flushness with a surface, and/or detecting foreign object debris near the fastener. Systems include an x-ray imaging system, a first camera device, a second camera device, a first support structure, and at least one processing unit. The first camera device produces a first image of the fastener from a first vantage point, and the second camera device produces a second image of the fastener from a second vantage point, such that a 3D image of the fastener can be created from the first image and the second image. The system inspects the fastener based on the x-ray image and/or the 3D image, to determine concentricity and/or flushness of the fastener. Systems may be automated and mounted on robot arms to be positioned relative to the fasteners being inspected.

Methods and apparatus for measuring fastener concentricity

A manufacturing system includes a printhead, at least one profilometer, and a control system. The printhead extrudes a material onto a substrate and forms a new bead during additive manufacturing of an in-work article. The profilometer moves with the printhead and measures an in-work cross-sectional profile of existing beads of the in-work article. The control system generates in-work profile data including the in-work cross-sectional profile at a plurality of in-work profile locations, and continuously compares the in-work profile data to reference profile data of a reference article. The reference profile data includes a reference cross-sectional profile at a plurality of reference profile locations. The control system adjusts, based on the profile comparison, one or more bead forming parameters and causes the printhead to form the new bead according to the bead forming parameters to reduce or prevent nonconformities associated with forming the new bead.

Bead-type additive manufacturing system and method

A measurement system is provided that includes a radiographic source, a detector, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is operably coupled to the detector and configured to: position the radiographic source in a first position relative to the object to image a first portion of the object, with the first position configured to maintain parallax for the first portion within a predetermined amount; obtain first imaging information of the first portion of the object in the first position; adjust the position of the radiographic source relative to the object to a second position, with the second position configured to maintain parallax for the second portion within a predetermined amount; obtain second imaging information of the second portion of the object in the second position; and generate an image of the object using the first imaging information and the second imaging information.

Apparatuses and methods for high-precision measurement

Growing community of inventors

Lake Forest Park, WA, United States of America

Thomas A Maeder