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A new method for automatic shaft-hole assembly of aircraft components

Junxia Jiang (The State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, and Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China)
Chen Bian (The State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, and Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China)
Yinglin Ke (The State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, and Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China)

Assembly Automation

ISSN: 0144-5154

Article publication date: 6 February 2017

532

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design a new method to realize automatic assembly of aircraft components with large shafts such as canard and vertical tail. The assembly structure of component with large shaft and fuselage is a mating assembly structure, and it is a challenge to satisfy the precision and assembly requirement.

Design/methodology/approach

According to the assembly structure features and process requirements of an aircraft component with large shaft, the operating principle of precise assembly system for shaft-hole mating is analyzed in this paper. The model of compliant assembly for shaft-hole mating is constructed, and force condition analysis of the compliant assembly is performed. An automatic precise shaft-hole assembly method for aircraft assembly using 5 degrees of freedom spatial mechanism, compliance technology and servo feeding system is put forward based on the analysis. A 5 degrees of freedom passive compliant experimental equipment has been developed.

Findings

Application test results of the 5 degrees of freedom passive compliant experimental equipment show that the simulated canard can be mated automatically and accurately through this method with high efficiency and high quality as long as the tip of shaft enters into the range of hole’s chamfer.

Practical implications

This method has been used in an aircraft assembly project. The practical results show that the aircraft components with large shafts can be mated automatically and accurately through this method with high efficiency and high quality.

Originality/value

This paper presents a new method and designs a new assembly system to realize the assembly of the aircraft components with large shafts. The research will promote the automation of fuselage assembly.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The work was supported by Science Fund for Creative Research Groups of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51521064). The authors would also like to thank the editors and the anonymous referees for their insightful comments.

Citation

Jiang, J., Bian, C. and Ke, Y. (2017), "A new method for automatic shaft-hole assembly of aircraft components", Assembly Automation, Vol. 37 No. 1, pp. 64-70. https://doi.org/10.1108/AA-04-2016-032

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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