The Boeing Company

Wesley Edward Holleman

Gary Alan Lipczynski

Nicholas Ryan Farrell

Eric Whinnem

James Darryl Gamboa

William Paul Zanteson

Daniel W Barnett

Branko Sarh

Brent F Craig

Mark Douglas Fuller

Matthew K Roberts

Michael L Caldarera

Gary A Lipczynski

Gary Lipczynski

A combination cutting and burnishing orbital drilling tool may include an elongate tool body including a cutting end and extending along a longitudinal axis. The tool body may include a burnishing portion spaced from the cutting end and configured to induce residual stress in a side wall of a hole without removing material. The tool body may further include a cutting portion interposed between the cutting end and the burnishing portion. The cutting portion may be configured to remove material from a workpiece, thereby creating the hole, during an orbital drilling process.

Machining/burnishing dual geometry orbital drilling tool

Provided are methods for verifying sequences of different operations and controlling processing order in accordance with these sequences. Also provided are apparatuses for executing these methods. A method may involve determining a current configuration of an indicator positioned on a part. This operation may be performed using a tester coupled to a processing portion. If the current configuration of the indicator corresponds to this particular processing portion, then the part is processed using this processing portion. The indicator is then changed to a new configuration corresponding to another processing portion for performing the next operation in the sequence. The processing is only performed if the indicator has the current configuration corresponding to the processing portion. Otherwise, the operation is not performed, and the current configuration of the indicator not changed retained. The indicator may be a mechanical device or an electronic device.

Methods and systems for controlling processing sequences

A machining tool incorporates a shaft having a first end configured to fit into a machining collet. A cutting portion extends from a second end of the shaft. A residual stress inducer is located between the first and second ends and includes a torsion element joined to the shaft at a connection end. A carbide tip is present on a free end opposite the connection end and the torsion element is configured such that a selected rotational speed, altered from a normal cutting speed, causes the carbide tip of the torsion element to contact a workpiece surface.

Roto peening orbital drilling tool

A tool for rotating a first component of an assembly relative to a second component of the assembly is disclosed. The tool comprises a ring support, a first wrench, coupled to the ring support, a worm ring, rotationally coupled to the ring support, a second wrench, coupled to the worm ring, and a worm screw, rotationally coupled to the ring support and in mesh with the worm ring.

Tool for rotating two components of assembly relative to each other

A cutting tool for use in an orbital drilling machine may include a cutting-tool body having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of cutting edges supported on the cutting-tool body and distributed circumferentially around the cutting-tool body. Each cutting edge may extend along the longitudinal axis in a respective helix. A circumferential spacing may be defined between each pair of circumferentially adjacent cutting edges for each position of the longitudinal axis along which the cutting edges extend. The circumferential spacing between at least first and second cutting edges of the plurality of cutting edges may be different at spaced-apart first and second positions along the longitudinal axis.

Orbital cutting tool having cutting edges with axially varying circumferential spacing

A hole cleaning apparatus includes a member, a brush, and a vacuum source. The brush rotates around a longitudinal axis of the member, or translates in a direction which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the member. The vacuum source provides vacuum suction within the member.

Hole cleaning apparatus and method

A debris removal apparatus for a milling machine. In one embodiment, the debris removal apparatus includes a hollow, cylindrical suction member that attaches to a tool shaft which holds an end mill to rotate with the tool shaft. The debris removal apparatus further includes a nonrotating canister that applies a suction force to the suction member. The suction member is dimensioned to fit within a hole being cut by the end mill as the end mill is fed into the hole, and to extract debris created by the end mill via the suction force.

Debris collection for a milling process

Apparatus and methods for performing and controlling the sequence of steps in a multi-step machining process utilizing a plurality of drilling units, where each drilling unit is configured to perform at least one step of the multi-step machining process. Air pressure sensors in each drilling unit measure air pressures at the surface of a workpiece where the cutting tool of the drilling unit is engaged, which measured air pressures indicate air flow at the surface. These air flows in turn indicate the state of the machining at the surface of the workpiece, and based on the state of the machining, a machine control system will determine whether a drilling unit can perform its particular machining operation in the proper sequence on the workpiece.

Multi-step drilling apparatus and methods utilizing air flow sensing control

Described herein is an orbital drilling system that includes an orbital drilling machine and a cutter. The orbital drilling machine includes a spindle and an eccentric rotation mechanism. The spindle is rotatable about a cutter axis. The eccentric rotation mechanism is coupled to the spindle and configured to orbit the spindle about an orbital axis, offset from the cutter axis. The cutter is co-rotatably coupled to the spindle and comprises a plurality of cutting edges, collectively defining a cutting diameter of the cutter. The cutting diameter of the cutter is adjustable.

Orbital drilling system and associated methods and apparatuses

One aspect of the disclosure relates to a cutting tool for forming a final opening in a stack that includes at least two layers and a pilot opening having a pilot-opening dimension and extending through at least one of the at least two layers. The cutting tool includes a shank. The cutting tool also includes a first portion including at least one of a first coating or the first coating and a second coating, wherein the first coating at least partially covers the first portion. The cutting tool also includes a second portion between the shank and the first portion, wherein the second portion includes the second coating, and wherein the second coating at least partially covers the second portion.

Growing community of inventors

Long Beach, CA, United States of America

Wesley Edward Holleman