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The aerospace industry uses flexible complex contoured structure in aircraft. To take advantage of advancements in engineering design, assembly methods, and inspection tools, the dimensional requirements for this kind of structure can be specified using Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5M-1994, “Dimensioning and Tolerancing.” The 1994 revision of this standard includes some new features which can be used to specify the dimensional requirements for flexible complex contoured structure, but there are no examples on how GD&T can or should be applied. This paper gives some examples how GD&T can be applied on flexible complex contoured structure and how this usage specifies the dimensional requirements for such parts.

Capacitance sensing probes have been in use for a number of years in the airframe assembly industry for characterizing diameters in straight and tapered fastener holes. A new type of capacitance probe was recently developed that simultaneously characterizes the countersink and shank diameters in holes drilled for index head rivets. The probe design and a unique methodology for a systems approach to qualifying a multi-probe inspection facility are presented in this paper.

This paper addresses the steps and processes to create a full life circle of Tool Routines utilizing 3D data analysis as the driver. The paper covers the development of 3D Tool Routines for automation, the execution of the routines and the analysis of the collected historical 3D data. The process goal is to reduce the tool routine frequency by establishing and proving tool stability utilizing historical data. The historical data will also give us information in regards to design and tolerance capabilities. Graphical software programs are evolving in a way that enables us to link the different operations and software programs that encompass tool routines. Through the use of software and hardware such as laser tracker, we can achieve automation of tool routines and analysis. Customers in the aerospace, automotive and construction industries are among the beneficiaries in the application of this inspection process.