Aerospace Part Masking Stencil for Precision Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Positioning masking mediums on complex or monolithic aerospace parts for treatment is complicated, time-consuming, and error-prone due to the lack of reliable visual reference points, leading to inefficiencies in masking, precise treatment, and partial redefinition processes.

Innovation Solution

A stencil is positioned over or onto the aerospace part to guide the placement of masking mediums and define areas for treatment, manufactured using software applications like CATIA for CAD/CAM purposes, enabling precise and accurate masking, treatment, and redefinition through openings in the stencil.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual masking methods are used on complex aerospace parts, then flexibility is maintained, but time consumption and error rate increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemasking operation efficiencyVSAvoidtime required for masking operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The stencil is manufactured in advance with precise openings that define the masking areas. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site measurements and markings, allowing workers to simply position the pre-fabricated stencil and apply masking material directly through the predefined openings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The stencil serves as a physical copy or template of the required masking pattern on the aerospace part. Instead of repeatedly measuring and marking the complex geometry, the stencil replicates the exact masking boundaries, enabling rapid and accurate reproduction of the masking layout across multiple operations or parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Manufacturing precision

If traditional masking methods are used without visual guides, then process simplicity is maintained, but accuracy and precision deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemasking accuracyVSAvoidcomplexity of masking setup

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stencil acts as an intermediary tool between the worker and the aerospace part. It provides the visual reference and physical boundary that guides masking material application, eliminating the need for complex measurement instruments or multiple reference points while ensuring precise masking placement on complex geometries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If stencils are used for precise treatment, then treatment accuracy improves, but the complexity of the process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment location accuracyVSAvoidcomplexity of treatment process

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stencil extracts and isolates only the necessary treatment areas through its openings, separating the treatment zone from the rest of the complex aerospace part. This extraction approach simplifies the treatment process by providing a clear, focused target area while maintaining high precision, eliminating the need for complex positioning calculations or multiple reference systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11970290B2Systems, devices, and methods for use with aerospace parts

Publication Date: 2024.04.30 ORIZON AEROSTRUCTURES LLC

AI summary

This disclosure discloses a method comprising: positioning a stencil having an opening onto an aerospace part such that the aerospace part is accessible through the opening; positioning a masking medium onto the aerospace part through the opening; removing the stencil from the aerospace part such that the masking medium remains on the aerospace part and treating the aerospace part with the masking medium thereon.