A method and apparatus for machining a part for an assembly. First sensor data is acquired for a surface of a first part from a first sensor system. Second sensor data is acquired for a set of existing holes in a second part from a second sensor system. A surface model of the surface of the first part is generated using the first sensor data. First offset data is computed based on a nominal model of a third part that is nominally positioned relative to the surface model within a three-dimensional virtual environment. Second offset data is computed for the set of existing holes using the second sensor data. Overall offset data is generated using the first and second offset data, wherein the overall offset data is used to drill a set of holes in the third part for use in fastening the third part to the second part.

A numerical controller that machines a workpiece to create multiple machined holes with a predetermined machining position and a predetermined machining shape in the workpiece includes a thermal influence calculation unit that determines a temporal change in a heat distribution of the workpiece for each of the machined holes when the machined hole having the machining shape is created at the machining position, a machining position determination unit that determines a next machined hole that does not cause thermal deformation of the workpiece on the basis of an elapsed time that elapses from creation of a previously machined hole to creation of a next machined hole and a heat distribution resulting from creation of the previously machined hole and the next machined hole, and a machining unit that creates the machined holes. The numerical controller can determine the machining positions taking the thermal deformation into account.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a numerical control device and control method with which it is possible for hole opening to be performed at high speed and with low vibration. This numerical control device for performing hole opening continuously at prescribed intervals in a workpiece, using a machine tool, is provided with: a positioning unit for moving a hole opening tool of the machine tool to a hole opening position of the workpiece, and positioning the hole opening tool; a cutting unit; a retracting unit for retracting the hole opening tool from the workpiece; and a program executing unit for executing a machining program for causing the machine tool to continuously machine the workpiece, by sequentially executing movement axis operation using the same control scheme for the processing performed by the positioning unit, the cutting unit, and the retracting unit.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a datum selection method for minimizing hole position errors in group hole machining of large components, comprising: 1) determining a type of a computer numerical control (CNC) machine tool and establishing a topological structure of the CNC machine tool; 2) establishing a theoretical postural model of a tool center point during a motion; 3) establishing a hole position error model; 4) establishing an average error model of hole positions in group hole machining; and 5) obtaining a machining datum for group holes of corresponding components. For the skeleton and skinned group hole machining of aircraft components, different principles of datum selection are provided respectively, which can effectively improve the positional accuracy of the skeleton or skinned group hole machining, at the same time provides a more scientific and reasonable approach for the datum selection in group hole machining of large components.

A quality determination device includes an acquisition unit for acquiring a drive current during tapping, from a motor provided in a machine tool that performs tapping, and a determination unit for determining acceptance or rejection of a screw hole formed by the tapping, based on the drive current, an electric power of the motor obtained from the drive current, or a torque of the motor obtained from the drive current.

Described herein are methods and manufacturing systems that select fasteners for pre-feeding and, in some examples, pre-feed the selected fasteners. These methods involve aggregating historical manufacturing data, comprising hole identifications and fastener grip lengths, previously selected for these hole identifications. A specific grip length and a corresponding fastener repeatability rating are then determined for each hole identification from this historical manufacturing data. For example, a specific grip length corresponds to the most frequently selected grip length for this hole identification. In some examples, the historical manufacturing data is analyzed using machine learning. The fastener repeatability rating is compared to an operating threshold, in some examples, to determine if the corresponding grip length should be selected for a particular hole location. This grip length selection is then used for pre-feeding a corresponding fastener into an automated drilling machine, thereby saving significant processing time relative to conventional processes.

A quality determination device includes an acquisition unit for acquiring a drive current during tapping, from a motor provided in a machine tool that performs tapping, and a determination unit for determining acceptance or rejection of a screw hole formed by the tapping, based on the drive current, an electric power of the motor obtained from the drive current, or a torque of the motor obtained from the drive current.

A method and system for drilling holes in a repaired composite structure. Four corner holes are selected from holes outside of a repaired area in the repaired composite structure. The four corner holes define a rectangle encompassing the repaired area with sides that each include a pair of corner holes with intermediate holes in between. A surface representation is generated based on a scan of the repaired composite structure that includes the rectangle. Side hole locations between a corresponding pair of corner holes are generated for each side of the rectangle. Grid vector lines are generated between corresponding pairs of side hole locations on opposite sides of the rectangle. The grid vector lines intersect each other at intersection points on the surface representation. Point coordinates are determined for intersection points that lie within the repaired area. A path is created for drilling holes at point coordinates for the intersection points.

A numerical controller that machines a workpiece to create multiple machined holes with a predetermined machining position and a predetermined machining shape in the workpiece includes a thermal influence calculation unit that determines a temporal change in a heat distribution of the workpiece for each of the machined holes when the machined hole having the machining shape is created at the machining position, a machining position determination unit that determines a next machined hole that does not cause thermal deformation of the workpiece on the basis of an elapsed time that elapses from creation of a previously machined hole to creation of a next machined hole and a heat distribution resulting from creation of the previously machined hole and the next machined hole, and a machining unit that creates the machined holes. The numerical controller can determine the machining positions taking the thermal deformation into account.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a datum selection method for minimizing hole position errors in group hole machining of large components, comprising: 1) determining a type of a computer numerical control (CNC) machine tool and establishing a topological structure of the CNC machine tool; 2) establishing a theoretical postural model of a tool center point during a motion; 3) establishing a hole position error model; 4) establishing an average error model of hole positions in group hole machining; and 5) obtaining a machining datum for group holes of corresponding components. For the skeleton and skinned group hole machining of aircraft components, different principles of datum selection are provided respectively, which can effectively improve the positional accuracy of the skeleton or skinned group hole machining, at the same time provides a more scientific and reasonable approach for the datum selection in group hole machining of large components.