Digitally Adjustable Tooling Technology for Manufacturing of Aircraft Panels

Digitally adjustable tooling using multi-point forming methodology is a flexible manufacturing technology for aircraft panels. It includes multi-point press forming and multi-point stretch forming which are used in the forming of three dimensional aluminum alloy panels and multi-point positioning tool which is used in subsequent assembly operation. The deformation mechanism of the multi-point die less forming and positioning technology were analyzed with commercial FEM codes. The forming defects such as dimpling and spring back in forming were investigated and the preventing measures were proposed. The factors which affect the performance of multi-point positioning tool were given. Based the simulation results, three types of prototypes were developed under the supporting of EC 6th programme project DATAFORM.