The Boeing Company
Dynamic collar swage conformance checking based on swage tool parameters

Abstract:

Systems and methods are provided for inspecting fastener installation. One embodiment is a method for inspecting installation of a fastener. The method includes determining an initial distance between a nose of a swage tool and an Inner Mold Line (IML) of a part, operating the swage tool to swage a collar onto a fastener that protrudes through the IML of the part, determining a terminal distance of the nose to the IML during swaging, prior to a pintail of the fastener breaking, and arriving at a conclusion indicating a state of a fastener installation, based on the terminal distance.