Virtual Masking Surfaces for Accurate Part Painting Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing masking methods for painting or treating parts, particularly aircraft landing gear, are often inaccurate and require operators to consult paper or PDF documents for instructions, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a numerical model to define a virtual masking surface, superpose it on a part's image, and use augmented reality to ensure accurate masking by comparing the real and virtual surfaces, facilitated by shape recognition algorithms and inspection tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If paper or PDF masking instructions are used, then operators have reference material, but masking accuracy decreases and operators must consult documents during work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the masking instructions by generating a digital model of the part with masked areas represented in virtual space. This virtual model replicates the essential information from paper/PDF documents but in a format that can be overlaid and visually compared with the actual part, eliminating the need for operators to consult physical documents while maintaining reference accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions masking instructions from two-dimensional paper or PDF representations to a three-dimensional virtual model that can be spatially aligned with the actual part. By rendering the virtual model in a coordinate system that matches the physical part, operators can directly visualize masking areas on the part itself, improving both accuracy and ease of operation.
2Measurement precision
If virtual surfaces are superposed on part images, then masking accuracy improves, but device complexity increases due to augmented reality systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing part model serve multiple functions: it is used both for manufacturing the actual part and for creating the virtual masking instructions. The same coordinate system and geometric data that define the part's physical dimensions are reused to generate the virtual model, eliminating the need for separate scanning or modeling operations and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coordinate system transformation as an intermediary that bridges the virtual model and the physical part. By establishing a mapping between the virtual coordinate system and the physical coordinate system, the system enables accurate spatial alignment without requiring complex augmented reality hardware, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining masking accuracy.
3Reliability
If real-time image comparison is implemented, then masking quality control improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-processing the virtual model to extract key masking features and pre-establishing the coordinate transformation before the actual masking operation. This preparation work is done in advance so that during the actual masking and inspection process, the system only needs to perform simple image capture and comparison operations, minimizing processing time while maintaining quality control.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a method of assisting masking a part (100), the method comprising, prior to working on the part, the steps of:using a numerical model (1) of the part to define at least one virtual surface (2) for masking by extracting from the model a geometrical surface of the part that is to be masked, and by duplicating said geometrical surface; andassigning instructions (3) about masking to the virtual surface for masking as defined in this way; thenwhen an operator is working on a part matching the numerical model, taking at least one image of the part and enabling the operator to view the image of the part with the virtual surface for masking superposed thereon while also displaying the associated instructions; andafter the part matching the numerical model has been masked, taking an image of the masked part and comparing on the image the real masked surface with the virtual surface for masking.