ADRI

AUTOMATED DEFECT REPAIR and INSPECTION
ABSTRACT

Companies that are building large composite assemblies such as aircraft fuselage sections are discovering that the time required to manually repair defects is often as long as the time required to build the assemblies in the first place.  Repair of composite structures such as radomes on aging aircraft is similarly time consuming.  Automation of inspection and repair processes represents a fertile area for cost and cycle time reduction in the world of large composite assembly manufacturing.  An additional advantage of automation is that repairs can be digitally documented at every stage in the repair process.

 A team of technology companies led by AGFM of Chesapeake, Virginia, produces automated work-cells for inspecting and repairing large composite parts.  The automation systems are called Automated Defect Repair and Inspection (ADRI) cells.  An ADRI cell is generally comprised of a digital shape scanning system, a non-destructive testing (NDT) system, a laser projection/ply verification system, and a CNC machining system.  The digital shape scanner is used to digitize as-built and as-repaired surfaces of the work-part.  The NDT system is used to detect composite defects.  The laser projection system is used to highlight defect locations and assist in lying up replacement plugs.  The CNC machining system is used to remove damaged areas, cut new repair plies, position sensor systems and to combine all 3D data into a single coordinate system.

AGFM (www.agfm.com) supplies ADRI cells, and ultrasonic cutting and routing systems.
Assembly Guidance Systems (AGS, www.assemblyguide.com) supplies the laser projection and automatic ply verification systems.
Dimensional Photonics International, Inc. (DPI, www.dpi-3d.com) supplies the digital shape scanning systems.
Abaris Training Resources (www.abaris.com), Inc consults with the ADRI team on best repair practices.

American GFM Chesapeake, VA 23323 757-487-2442