On Airbus aircraft, the undercarriage reinforcing is attached through the lower wing skin using bolts up to 1-inch in diameter through as much as a 4-inch stack up. This operation typically takes place in the wing box assembly jigs. Manual hole drilling for these bolts has traditionally required massive drill templates and large positive feed drill motors. In spite of these large tools, the holes must be drilled in multiple steps to reduce the thrust loads, which adds process time.For the new A380, Airbus UK wanted to explore a more efficient method of drilling these large diameter holes.Introducing automated drilling equipment, which is capable of drilling these holes and still allows for the required manual access within the wing box assembly jig, was a significant challenge. To remain cost effective, the equipment must be flexible and mobile, a llowing it to be used on multiple assemblies.In conjunction with Airbus UK, Electroimpact has developed a mobile automated drilling system for the A380 undercarriage area. The system can drill up to 1.25-inch diameter holes in one shot. Similar in design to a five-axis post mill, the system can be transported to multiple work zones using an adapted stacking crane.The system has been termed the GRAWDE for Gear Rib Automated Wing Drilling Equipment.
Automated Wing Drilling System for the A380-GRAWDE
Sae Technical Papers
Automated Fastening Conference & Exposition ; 2003
2003-09-08
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
Drilling , Bolts , Aircraft , Tools and equipment , Wings , Assembling
Automated Wing Drilling System for the A380-GRAWDE
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2003
|A380 wing production investment
Emerald Group Publishing | 2003
Filton delivers major A380 wing part
Emerald Group Publishing | 2004
Wing controversy follows A380's CRJ prang
Online Contents | 2011
A380 Automated Spar Drilling and Fettling System (ASDAFS); A Culmination of Enabling Technologies
SAE Technical Papers | 2003
|