Aerospace Panels Fixtureless Inspection Methods with Restraining Force Requirements; A Technology Review

Aerospace panels are commonly restrained on complex inspection fixture jigs during the measurement process. Forces used to restrain the part are also monitored because of the part functional requirements. Given the difficulties in measuring these types of parts, this paper reviews the available fixtureless inspection methods with a focus on the challenges of their implementation and their aptitude to be used to estimate the part profile and the necessary restraining forces of an aerospace panel. To perform this investigation, finite element analysis is used to predict the constrained shape of four (4) simulated free state aerospace panel, with two different type of boundary condition, in five scenarios. From those analyses, the importance and limits of current finite element boundary setting method embedded in fixtureless inspection methods for nonrigid parts are highlighted.