Portable Robotic Deburring System for Aircraft Splice Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual deburring of aircraft splice plates is time-consuming and results in an undesirable finish, while automated systems require additional time for assembly due to the need to move parts between drilling and deburring operations, delaying aircraft certification and delivery.
Innovation Solution
A portable deburring system with a housing, tool system, positioning system, camera system, and controller that uses image information to move workpieces and deburring tools relative to each other, allowing for automated removal of inconsistencies, such as burrs, and inspection of hole quality, with deburring tools adapted for different hole sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual deburring is performed, then the finish quality is improved, but the time consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical deburring operations with an automated robotic system that uses image-guided positioning and automated deburring tools. The controller receives image information from the camera system, processes it to locate inconsistencies, and automatically controls the robotic arm to perform deburring operations, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining high finish quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the workpiece to serve itself by using the camera system to automatically detect and locate inconsistencies on the workpiece surface. The image information is processed to identify burrs and other defects, and the system automatically positions and removes them without requiring external manual inspection or guidance, making the deburring process self-directed and highly efficient.
2Productivity
If automated deburring systems are used, then the productivity is improved, but the process complexity increases due to separate drilling and deburring operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines drilling and deburring operations into a single integrated process. The system performs drilling to create holes, then automatically transitions to deburring the same holes without removing the workpiece from the fixture or repositioning it. This merging of operations eliminates the need for separate drilling and deburring setups, reducing process complexity while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system is designed with multi-functionality, capable of performing both drilling and deburring operations using the same equipment and fixture. The tool system can be automatically changed or adjusted between drilling and deburring modes, and the image-guided positioning system serves both operations, making the system universal and eliminating the need for dedicated separate processes.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple deburring tools are used for different hole sizes, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic tool selection and positioning capabilities. The robotic arm can dynamically adjust its position and select appropriate deburring tools based on the hole size and inconsistency location detected by the camera system. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to handle multiple hole sizes with a single flexible mechanism rather than requiring multiple fixed specialized tools, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for performing an operation on a workpiece. Image information may be received from a camera system at a controller in which the camera system and the controller may be associated with a housing. The workpiece with a number of inconsistencies and a tool system may be moved relative to each other under a control of the controller in which the tool system may be associated with the housing. A number of operations may be performed on the number of inconsistencies on the workpiece holes using the image information under the control of the controller.