BAE Systems PLC
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SHIMS

Abstract:

A method of producing a shim (1500) for use in an aircraft, the method comprising: providing an aircraft airframe (200); measuring a surface of the airframe (200); creating a digital model of the airframe (200) using those measurements; providing an aircraft skin (1506); measuring a surface of the aircraft skin (1506); creating a digital model of the aircraft skin (1506) using those measurements; digitally assembling the digital model of the airframe (200) with the digital model of the aircraft skin (1506); using the digitally assembled models, creating a digital model of a shim (1500), the digital model of the shim (1500) substantially filling a gap between the digitally assembled digital models of the airframe (200) and the skin (1506); and producing a physical shim (1500) using the digital model of the shim(1500).