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The field of parallel kinematics was viewed as being potentially transformational in manufacturing, having multiple potential advantages over conventional serial machine tools and robots. However, the technology never quite achieved market penetration or broad success envisaged. Yet, many of the inherent advantages still exist in terms of stiffness, force capability, and flexibility when compared to more conventional machine structures. Deployment of Parallel Kinematic Machines in Manufacturing examines why parallel kinematic machines have not lived up to original excitement and market interest and what needs to be done to rekindle that interest. A number of key questions and issues need to be explored to advance the technology further. Click here to access the full SAE EDGETM Research Report portfolio.

The aerospace manufacturing industry is, in many ways, one of the most sophisticated commercial manufacturing systems in existence. It uses cutting-edge materials to build highly complex, safety-critical structures and parts. However, it still relies largely upon human skill and dexterity during assembly. There are increasing efforts to introduce automation, but uptake is still relatively low. Why is this and what needs to be done? Some may point to part size or the need for accuracy. However, as with any complex issue, the problems are multifactorial. There are no right or wrong answers to the automation conundrum and indeed there are many contradictions and unsettled aspects still to be resolved. Unsettled Issues on the Viability and Cost-Effectiveness of Automation in Aerospace Manufacturing builds a comprehensive picture of industry views and attitudes backed by technical analysis to answer some of the most pressing questions facing robotic aerospace manufacturing.

This study reports aerodynamic properties of two runback ice shapes molded from a mid-span full scale B737 aerofoil leading edge together with a series of simplistic ice shapes of the type sometimes used by aircraft manufacturers to mimic performance loss due to runback ice. The runback ice shapes were taken from a study of runback ice growth which had produced flexible silicone rubber moulds. These moulds were used to produce ice shapes without curvature which, together with the “simplistic” shapes were mounted on flat plates and installed into the Cranfield University 8 by 6 foot wind tunnel. A boundary layer suction system was used to match the wall conditions more closely to what would be anticipated on a real aerofoil. The icing conditions approximate to a hold case with the two shapes representing a 4 and a 10 mm thick runback shape. The aerodynamic tests have been performed with a tunnel speed of 45 m/s.

The shear size and flexibility of the larger airframe parts makes it difficult to imagine assembly without extensive use of hard tooling. Yet, the world of aerospace manufacturing is changing. It is already possible to considerably reduce the amount of external, ‘hard tooling’, especially jigs, through innovative design and the applications of advanced technologies. Jigless Aerospace Manufacture, (JAM), is not a single, mysterious, as yet undiscovered technology. Rather it is a growing number of related and linked technologies. Many of these are already well established and considered ‘robust.’ This paper sets out to review and describe some of these enabling technologies and to explain their individual roles towards achieving JAM.

This paper describes a computer code for conceptual design of mission optimized twin-turboprop Commuter or Regional aircraft. Optimum configurations and flight profiles of such aircraft are determined by coupling this code to an optimization code based on Simulated Annealing. As an example, minimum DOC configurations were determined for 50-seat Regional aircraft for operation over three stage lengths. The DOC per seat-nm and DOC per trip of the optimum aircraft were found to be comparable or significantly (8 to 17 %) lower than the corresponding values for five contemporary 40 to 50 seater aircraft for short stage lengths.