Automated fuselage mating

Brötje-Automation GmbH has developed an automated alignment facility designed to accurately position and align major aircraft fuselage sections.

Amajor challenge in aircraft manufacturing is the aligning and mating of large aircraft structures, such as the fuselage. Tolerance buildup, inaccurate jigs, and poor manufacturing practices can make this task difficult or even impossible. There may also be inaccuracies in the aligning and mating activity itself, which could lead to poor aerodynamic performance and increased assembly costs.

Therefore, new solutions have to be developed for system manufacturers to meet these challenges. For this reason, Brötje-Automation developed the automated alignment facility to accurately maneuver and position aircraft fuselages to ensure proper alignment and fit (Figure 1). Two goals of the facility are the assembly of airframes to a very high aerodynamic standard and the reduction of labor-hours required for mating major aircraft sections. Major components of the system include mechanized jacks, an integrated laser tracker system, and control system and software.