Measurement assisted robotic assembly of fabricated aero-engine components

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to describe the measurement-assisted assembly of aero-engine fabricated components and evaluate its capability. Design/methodology/approach - The system described in this paper uses in-process measurement sensors to determine the component's exact location prior to the assembly operation. The core of the system is a set of algorithms capable of best fitting measurement data to find optimal assembly of components. Findings - The paper demonstrates that with a combination of non-contact metrology systems and mathematical processing, standard industrial robot can be used to assemble fabricated components. Scanning parts after it has been picked up was very effective as it compensates for possible components deformation during previous manufacturing processes and robot handling errors. Originality/value - The paper introduces techniques for compensating the deformation that occurs in aero-engine fabricated components and potential component handling errors. The developed system reduces the reliance on part holding fixtures and instead uses a laser-guided robot. This ensures that the system is highly flexible and re-configurable.