The Boeing Company
AUTOMATED TRIM AND INSTALLATION TOOLS FOR AIRFRAME COMPONENTS AT A MOVING LINE

Abstract:

Systems and methods are provided for trimming and installation. One embodiment is a system for cutting out portions of a fuselage section. The system includes an Inner Mold Line (IML) tool comprising an inner gripping element configured to apply suction to a portion of the fuselage section, and further comprising an outer gripping element configured to apply suction to an area surrounding the portion, an Outer Mold Line (OML) tool configured to operate a cutter to cut the portion out from the fuselage section while suction is applied to the portion and to the area surrounding the portion, and a track that is disposed between the IML tool and the OML tool, wherein the fuselage section is configured to be pulsed in a process direction along the track, such that the fuselage section remains disposed between the IML tool and the OML tool when pulsed in the process direction.