Support Beam Gantry Transfer for Precise Aerospace Workpiece Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of large aerospace structures faces challenges in proper orientation and support within work cells, particularly with overhead mechanical equipment, and the manual handling of these structures is time-consuming and imprecise.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing a support beam for workpieces, monitored by sensors and interfaced with a gantry, to automate the transfer between work cells, ensuring precise positioning and efficient movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual processing and manual movement are used for large aerospace structures, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but time consumption increases and precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A support beam is introduced as an intermediary carrier between the workpiece and the automated gantry system. The support beam can be manually handled for positioning and then interfaced with the automated gantry for precise automated movement, thus bridging manual and automated processes
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical handling system is replaced with an automated gantry system that uses rail-guided movement and electronic control. The gantry system substitutes manual labor with automated mechanical movement along predetermined paths, significantly reducing transfer time and improving precision
2Manufacturing precision
If manual positioning methods are used, then setup flexibility is maintained, but positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors and control mechanisms that provide feedback on the position of the support beam and workpiece. This feedback enables real-time adjustment and verification of positioning accuracy, ensuring precise placement while reducing the time needed for manual trial-and-error positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The support beam is pre-positioned and secured to the workpiece before interfacing with the gantry system. This preliminary action ensures proper alignment and positioning are established in advance, allowing the automated system to proceed directly to precise movement without time-consuming setup adjustments
3Ease of manufacture
If overhead mechanical equipment is used in work cells, then processing capability is improved, but proper orientation and support of large structures becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is segmented into multiple components: the workpiece, the support beam, and the gantry system. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the support beam provides manual handling capability while the gantry system provides automated positioning, together solving the orientation and support challenges in overhead work cells
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for transporting a workpiece from an initial work cell to a subsequent work cell in a manufacturing environment having a plurality of work cells, the workpiece is supported by a support beam. The method includes monitoring (610) the initial work cell for presence of a ready-to-move condition and monitoring (620) the subsequent work cell for presence of a ready-to-receive condition. When both the ready-to-move condition and the ready-to-receive condition are present, the method includes interfacing (620) the support beam with a gantry and, after the interfacing, moving (640) the support beam with the gantry from the initial work cell to the subsequent work cell.