Automated floor panel workcell

Citation

(2001), "Automated floor panel workcell", Assembly Automation, Vol. 21 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2001.03321cad.016

Automated floor panel workcell

Automated floor panel workcellKeywords: Automation, Boeing, Computer numerical control

Applicant: The Boeing CompanyPatent number: US5590046Publication date: 31 December 1996Title: Automated floor panel workcell

A workcell for making parts in a vertical orientation from rigid sheet material capable of self-support on edge includes a plurality of CNC machines for performing machining operations on said sheet material in a vertical orientation. The CNC machines receive machine control data from a cell controller, which, in turn, receives nest order packages from a factory system. The parts data from which the factory system constructs the nest order packages come from the original engineering parts definition in a central data storage system, which is the ultimate parts design authority of the assembly for which the parts are to be made. The rigid sheet material is transferred in a vertical orientation to and between the CNC machines in at least one automated handling cart. The cart has a transfer mechanism for transferring sheets of the rigid sheet material on edge between the cart and the CNC machines. A motive mechanism is provided for driving the cart between the CNC machines under control of the cell controller, and for stopping the cart with its transfer mechanism in registry with the CNC machines.