Patent ID: 11953880
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC G  B | IPC B  G

Claim 7:
8. A method for indexing a rigid tool for a composite part, the method comprising:
identifying a groove formed in the rigid tool and that extends in a process direction, wherein the rigid tool travels in the process direction during fabrication of the composite part;
placing an indexing head with respect to the groove;
traversing the indexing head along the groove;
acquiring a stream of 3D coordinates of the indexing head as the indexing head traverses the groove;
determining an alignment of the rigid tool based on the stream of 3D coordinates; and
altering a Numerical Control (NC) program that directs work at the rigid tool, based on a difference between the alignment of the rigid tool and a nominal alignment of the rigid tool.