Patent ID: 8655480

Claim:
An automated filler production method, comprising: obtaining gap measurement data by measuring a gap between component parts of a structure; capturing and providing said gap measurement data to a data collector function via at least one of a network communication to the data collector function, manual data entry in the data collector function, or delivery of a gap measurement file generated by computer based measurement systems; updating a computer aided design (CAD) system based solid model of the structure and a solid model definition of the filler with the gap measurement data; updating a computer aided manufacturing (CAM) process file with the updated filler solid model definition; creating portable Machine Control Data (MCD) using the CAM process file and the updated filler solid model definition; generating a machine set-up sheet specifying a material type, a part name, and a sheet thickness based on the filler solid model and design specifications; providing the MCD to a filler machining center; and machining a filler from a sheet of specified filler material using the MCD and the machine set-up sheet.