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

Claim 26:
27. A method for indexing an arcuate tool for a composite part, the method comprising:
identifying a groove formed in the arcuate tool that extends circumferentially along a portion of the arcuate tool;
placing an indexing head with respect to the groove;
rotating the arcuate tool relative to the indexing head such that the indexing head traverses the groove;
acquiring a stream of 3D coordinates of the indexing head as the indexing head traverses the groove;
determining an alignment of the arcuate tool based on the acquired stream of 3D coordinates; and
altering a Numerical Control (NC) program that directs work at the arcuate tool, based on a difference between the alignment of the arcuate tool and a nominal alignment of the arcuate tool.