Multi-point location theory, method, and application for flexible tooling system in aircraft manufacturing

To solve problems in aircraft manufacturing, flexible tooling system with "Forming-Machining" process is presented. Pointwise degree of freedom is defined on aircraft large-scale thin-wall workpiece during its machining process where traditional six-point location principle is not suitable, and base on which adaptive multi-point location method used for this kind of workpieces is described. Furthermore, multi-point location/support algorithm is developed to solve positions of location/support spheres of flexible tooling system to construct envelope surface of workpiece and avoid machine tool interference. Test data of sample workpiece show that flexible tooling system meets the requirements of aircraft large-scale thin-wall workpiece machining with manufacturing error and cycle decreased.