Welding aerospace components

For more than a generation, welding processes have provided a cost-effective way of maintaining a totally inert atmosphere in which to fabricate sensitive materials for safety critical applications. Parts manufacturing in the aerospace industry is subject to stringent quality requirements, which in most cases can only be met by having the manufacturing processes supervised by highly skilled and experienced workers.

The challenge was to automatically and accurately detect the actual location of seams formed by the casing frame and each of its blades, in an extremely confined space. Using this position information, the robot drives the welding laser beam perfectly aligned into the seam within the tolerance required by the process.

In order to optimise the machining of holes on large aircraft components, robotic systems, using 6-axis robots mounted on rails, are now used to perform these high precision tasks. A SERVO-ROBOT sensor mounted on the robot wrist is used to locate reference features incorporated on the aircraft part. This allows computing of the exact position of the part in the space and the location of the holes to be drilled.

For each reference feature, the system measures its size, position, and full orientation and transfers the information to the robot where the computation of the position of each hole to be drilled is finalised. Low volume and high precision requirements are the two major obstacles for automation in the aerospace industry.

These can now be easily overcome by the use of high precision tracking systems. SERVO-ROBOT's joint tracking systems mounted on an automatic GTA welding machine has permitted our customers in the aerospace industry to improve quality and productivity rate.

Boeing gears up in Iraq

Boeing, the world's aerospace company and the largest single manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft,   joined an exclusive line-up of aviation player sat the 'Airports Expansion, Cargo and Logistics' Conference and Exhibition to in Erbil, Iraq in April, 2011.

Boeing's participation at the event reflects its strong commitment to rebuilding the Iraqi aviation infrastructure and the central role its airplanes continue to play in advancing the Iraqi cargo and passenger transport market. Boeing is also a provider of aviation infrastructure training and services to the Government of Iraq.

The 'Airports Expansion, Cargo and Logistics' Conference and Exhibition, organised by UAE-based events management company Arabian Reach, have seen Boeing's wide range of production freighters, freighter conversions and passenger airplanes.

Marty Bentrott, Boeing Commercial Airplanes' VP for sales (Middle East, Russia and Central Asia), commented, "Iraq's aviation industry is passing through an exciting growth phase with seven new airports and cargo villages under construction. The 'Airports Expansion, Cargo and Logistics' Conference and Exhibition will help us contribute more effectively to the reconstruction of Iraq's aviation infrastructure and prepare for the delivery and operation of new airplanes. We are pleased that it will also provide us with an ideal platform to further strengthening our relationships in the Iraqi aviation sector and facilitate potential future partnerships and business development opportunities."

Boeing has a prominent position in the nascent Iraqi aviation market. It has signed a number of deals with the Government of Iraq during the past few years. Forty Boeing aircraft have been rZoom Lebron XV 15