Patent ID: 8914979
Filing Date: 2014-12-23
Classification: B21J,B23Q,B64C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a segment of an aircraft structure, the method comprising: a) assembling a plurality of panels comprising skin and stringers, each panel having a first skin edge and a second skin edge opposite of the first skin edge, with locating holes or locating features formed in the skin at a predetermined location proximate to the first skin edge; b) placing at least two of the panels, spatially separated from each other, on a support tool such that the locating holes or locating features align with indexing features of the support tool, wherein the indexing features of the support tool are oriented with a datum of a machine configured to machine the panels; c) drilling a plurality of full-sized holes proximate to the second skin edges of the at least two panels with the machine, using the datum of the machine as a reference point, wherein the full-sized holes have a diameter corresponding with a diameter of fasteners to be placed through the full-sized holes; d) repeating (b) and (c) on at least two others of the panels; e) removing the panels from the support tool; f) overlapping two of the panels proximate to their first skin edges, using the full-sized holes proximate to the second skin edges as locating features for determining a precise positioning of the panels relative to each other; g) inserting fasteners or pins through the locating holes overlapping each other proximate to the first skin edges of the panels; h) drilling full-sized holes through the panels simultaneously at overlapping locations of the panels and inserting corresponding fasteners into the full-sized holes, forming a pair of joined panels; i) repeating steps (f) through (h) for two others of the panels; j) installing control systems into at least one of the pairs of joined panels; and k) attaching the two pairs of joined panels with each other by aligning the full-sized holes proximate to one of the second skin edges with the full-sized holes proximate to another of the second skin edges and inserting fasteners through the aligned full-sized holes.