Systems, devices, and methods for fabricating finished parts include a system that includes a plurality of die assemblies located at a plurality of respective locations, each die assembly being configured to fabricate a respective finished part. The system further includes a movable gantry press and a robot, each configured to move between the plurality of respective locations. The system further includes a controller configured to receive a input to fabricate a finished part and identify a die assembly of the plurality of die assemblies. The controller is further configured to instruct the movable gantry press and the robot to move to the location of the die assembly. The controller is further configured to instruct the robot to load a blank into the die assembly, and instruct the movable gantry press to operate the die assembly to fabricate the finished part.

A die assembly for forming finished parts from blanks includes an upper die section and a lower die section. The upper die section includes an upper segmented die having a plurality of upper die segments releasably coupled to each other. The lower die section includes a lower segmented die having a plurality of lower die segments releasably coupled to each other. The die assembly is usable with a movable gantry press configured to move to a location of the die assembly and operate the die assembly.

A method of forming a sector of an annular component such as an inlet cowl/lip skin of a nacelle for an aircraft engine. The method comprising the steps of clamping at least part of a blank along a clamping boundary in a retaining arrangement so as to leave a portion of the blank exposed within the clamping boundary. Moving a punch and/or retaining arrangement radially so that the punch comes in to contact with the exposed portion of the blank and through the main body of the exposed blank thereby drawing the blank onto an external surface of the punch forming the sector from the leading edge to the trailing edge. Activating cooperating forming arrangement for engaging the blank and drawing the blank over the punch forming the sector of the inlet cowl from the leading edge to the inlet edge, the method comprising using a second draw forming tooling arrangement for the cooperating forming arrangement.

A method of forming a sector of an annular component such as an inlet cowl/lip skin of a nacelle for an aircraft engine. The method comprising the steps of clamping at least part of a blank along a clamping boundary in a retaining arrangement so as to leave a portion of the blank exposed within the clamping boundary. Moving a punch and/or retaining arrangement radially so that the punch comes in to contact with the exposed portion of the blank and through the main body of the exposed blank thereby drawing the blank onto an external surface of the punch forming the sector from the leading edge to the trailing edge. Activating cooperating forming arrangement for engaging the blank and drawing the blank over the punch forming the sector of the inlet cowl from the leading edge to the inlet edge, the method comprising using a second draw forming tooling arrangement for the cooperating forming arrangement.

In a preferred embodiment, a modular galley monument for an aircraft cabin includes a first side panel, a second side panel, and an upper surface connecting the first side panel and the second side panel. The modular galley monument may include dividers partitioning the monument into a number of compartments. The monument may include an upper monument portion and a lower monument portion connected at a periphery via a seal allowing for vertical deflection between the first monument portion and the second monument portion of at least one inch while maintaining contact with both. The monument may include an integrated heating appliance for a compartment, including an insulation shell, a heated compartment positioned within the insulation shell, an electrical heating unit disposed within the insulation shell and configured to provide heat energy to the heated compartment. And a door assembly rotatably connected about an opening of the heated compartment.

In a preferred embodiment, a modular galley monument for an aircraft cabin includes a first side panel, a second side panel, and an upper surface connecting the first side panel and the second side panel. The modular galley monument may include dividers partitioning the monument into a number of compartments. The monument may include an upper monument portion and a lower monument portion connected at a periphery via a seal allowing for vertical deflection between the first monument portion and the second monument portion of at least one inch while maintaining contact with both. The monument may include an integrated heating appliance for a compartment, including an insulation shell, a heated compartment positioned within the insulation shell, an electrical heating unit disposed within the insulation shell and configured to provide heat energy to the heated compartment. And a door assembly rotatably connected about an opening of the heated compartment.

A process and apparatus for forming a structure comprising: a) forming a pack from a skin sheet and a core sheet, wherein venting grooves are formed in a surface of a sheet that is adjacent to the other sheet; b) placing the pack in a mould and heating the pack; c) injecting a first gas between the core and skin sheets to urge the skin sheet against the mould; d) injecting a second gas on the side of the core sheet remote from the skin sheet to urge the core sheet against the skin sheet; e) maintaining gas pressure of the second gas thereby diffusion bonding the sheets; and f) withdrawing some or all of the first gas from the cavity.

A workpiece processing method includes: a section roll forming step of subjecting a flat plate shaped workpiece to forming to impart a prescribed cross-sectional shape thereto; a solution heat treatment step of subjecting the workpiece, after the section roll forming step has been performed, to solution heat treatment; a contour roll forming step of subjecting the workpiece, after the solution heat treatment step has been performed, to forming to bend the workpiece into an arcuate shape; and a stretch forming step of subjecting the workpiece, after the contour roll forming step has been performed, to forming to impart a curved shape, following a curved surface of a die, to the workpiece by bringing the workpiece into contact with the curved surface and inputting a tension load to the workpiece.

Methods are disclosed for forming metal workpieces made from a heat-treatable metal that has been shaped and tempered according to specified protocols that facilitate formation of large contoured unitary metal structures having welds that are retained in the finished structure, and finished metal structures made according to such methods.

A process and apparatus for forming a structure comprising: a) forming a pack from a skin sheet and a core sheet, b) placing the pack in a mould and heating the pack; c) injecting a first gas between the core and skin sheets to urge the skin sheet against the mould; d) injecting a second gas on the side of the core sheet remote from the skin sheet to urge the core sheet against the skin sheet; e) maintaining gas pressure of the second gas thereby diffusion bonding the sheets; and f) injecting a third gas between the skin sheet and the mould, to force the skin sheet against the core sheet.