Drill Gantry Cell for New F5 Wing Production

A robotic drill gantry has been established to automate the process of drilling, coldworking, reaming and counter-sinking combined skins and structure during new manufacture of F5 wings. The gantry accurately produces high quality holes and exact depth countersinks providing for superior fastener fits and skin aerodynamic smoothness. Two primary end effectors are used; one for drill, ream and countersink operations, and the other for split mandrel coldworking. A third probe end effector is used for geometry check functions. This paper describes the drill gantry production cell and the application for this new automated system.