AUTOMATED HANDLING OF AUXILIARY MATERIALS FOR VACUUM BAGGING IN CFRP FUSELAGE PRODUCTION

Kurzfassung

In order to match a predicted production ramp-up in aircraft production, state of the art manufacturing techniques have to be optimized regarding productivity and efficiency. Especially vacuum infusion techniques for large CFRP structures still involve a high amount of manual work. In detail, the vacuum bagging depends on manual lay-up processes of auxiliary materials. A first approach of automation concepts for robot-based vacuum bagging will be discussed in this paper. In a research project at the Center for Leigtweight Production Technology in Augsburg, automated manufacturing of a single-curved CFRP fuselage demonstrator has been investigated. A rigid gripping system with needle grippers has been developed and validated for the application of auxiliary materials as peel ply, release film and airweave on the top of a dry fiber preform. Alongside the process chain, handling and positioning procedures have been analyzed both analytically and in experimental test series. According to the rigidity of the gripping system, an adequate motion concept for the fuselage demonstrator has been found. The gripping system allows pick-up, transportation and positioning of auxiliary material packages on a single-curved preform with high accuracy. Based on these results conclusions for future vacuum bagging processes can be drawn.