Traveling Column Machines for Automated Drilling and Fastening Operations on Different Aircraft Structural Components

The demand of fulfilling the increasing requirements to shorten development lead times force suppliers to enhance modularity and flexible applicability of their machinery component portfolio. The presented examples show how basically similar machinery components, i.e. traveling column systems, can be applied for significantly different types of applications in the aircraft industry. Application examples are shown for drilling and installation of two-piece and blind rivet fasteners on box-type and barrel-type aircraft structures at Airbus Deutschland. It is shown how the basic drilling/riveting system is integrated into assembly stations and assembly lines and how it adapts to the varying operational requirements of A380 and A400M.