Disclosed is a method of producing a machining fixture for fixedly holding a workpiece during machining of that workpiece. The method comprises: providing an initial machining fixture comprising a plurality of receiving elements for receiving the workpiece to be machined; determining a datum, the datum being dependent upon the relative positions of the receiving elements; determining positions and orientations of one or more reference surfaces with respect to the datum; measuring the surface of the initial machining fixture with respect to the datum; and, thereafter, controlling machining apparatus with respect to the datum to machine the initial machining fixture to form the one or more reference surfaces, thereby producing the machining fixture.

A process for creating custom fixtures for parts that are to be CNC lathe machined is fully automatic and requires no human interaction. The customer's CAD file is computer analyzed to determine whether the part's dimensions fit within an available CNC lathe turning center for forming out of a cylindrical stock bar. The longitudinal axis is identified, and a set of tool paths is developed for cutting the part from two respective directions. A corresponding tool path is developed for CNC lathe cutting a bushing, preferably from the same bar stock, which generally represents the negative space around circular cross-sections of the part, in monotonically increasing diameters from the first end of the part. The bushing is then used to hold the part in the chuck during machining the second end of the part from the opposite direction.

A method of producing an assembly tool (60) for assembling an assembly (6), the method comprising: providing at least a portion of a jig frame (62); fixing support plates (65) to the jig frame (62); machining the one or more support plates (65) such that a surface of each of the support plates (65) lies in a common plane (130); positioning the jig frame (62) such that the machined surfaces of the support plates (65) contact with a supporting surface (138); fixing pickup device mounting plates (140a, 140b) to the jig frame (62); machining, with respect to the supporting surface (138), the pickup device mounting plates (140a, 140b) such that a surface of each mounting plate (140a, 40b) has a respective predetermined position and orientation with respect to the supporting surface (138); and fixing, to the machined surfaces of the mounting plates (140a, 140b), a respective pickup device (66-72).

The automatic support device generation method includes: receiving a virtual part; determining a retention direction for the virtual part; determining a retention rotation for the virtual part; and constructing a support device based on the part, the retention rotation, and the retention direction.

Disclosed is a method of producing an assembly tool for assembling a first system comprising one or more components. The method comprises: for each component, determining, when the first system is attached to a second system, a position and orientation of that component relative to the second system and positions and orientations relative to the second system at which that component is to be supported; providing a frame; attaching, to the frame, a reference structure; providing a plurality of pickup devices each having a receiving element for receiving a component; and securing each pickup device to the frame such that a position and orientation relative to the reference structure of each receiving element is the same as a position and orientation at which a component is to be supported.

The automatic support device generation method includes: receiving a virtual part; determining a retention direction for the virtual part; determining a retention rotation for the virtual part; and constructing a support device based on the part, the retention rotation, and the retention direction.

A method of producing an assembly tool (60) for assembling an assembly (6), the method comprising: providing at least a portion of a jig frame (62); fixing support plates (65) to the jig frame (62); machining the one or more support plates (65) such that a surface of each of the support plates (65) lies in a common plane (130); positioning the jig frame (62) such that the machined surfaces of the support plates (65) contact with a supporting surface (138); fixing pickup device mounting plates (140a, 140b) to the jig frame (62); machining, with respect to the supporting surface (138), the pickup device mounting plates (140a, 140b) such that a surface of each mounting plate (140a, 40b) has a respective predetermined position and orientation with respect to the supporting surface (138); and fixing, to the machined surfaces of the mounting plates (140a, 140b), a respective pickup device (66-72).

Disclosed is a method of producing a machining fixture for fixedly holding a workpiece during machining of that workpiece. The method comprises: providing an initial machining fixture comprising a plurality of receiving elements for receiving the workpiece to be machined; determining a datum, the datum being dependent upon the relative positions of the receiving elements; determining positions and orientations of one or more reference surfaces with respect to the datum; measuring the surface of the initial machining fixture with respect to the datum; and, thereafter, controlling machining apparatus with respect to the datum to machine the initial machining fixture to form the one or more reference surfaces, thereby producing the machining fixture.

An assembly process for assembling at least part of an aircraft airframe, the assembly process comprising: providing a first assembly including a first part of the airframe and a first reference structure attached thereto; providing a second assembly including a second part of the aircraft airframe and a second reference structure attached thereto; receiving, by a first receptacle, the first reference structure; receiving, by a second receptacle, the second reference structure; moving, by an actuation device, the receptacles into a predetermined configuration, thereby moving the first part of the aircraft airframe and the second part of the aircraft airframe into a predetermined configuration; and performing an assembly operation on the airframe parts to fixedly attach together the first part of the aircraft airframe and the second part of the aircraft airframe, thereby producing the part of the aircraft airframe.