Automated manufacturing of high-precision carbon structures required significantly higher absolute robot accuracy.
High-precision robot calibration established the conditions needed for reproducible and reliable material placement.
Robot Calibration for Automated Fiber Placement in the Aerospace Industry
Case Study
Manufacturing modern carbon structures in aerospace places the highest demands on the precision of material placement. An internationally active equipment manufacturer developed a production installation with a heavy-duty robot for Automated Fiber Placement.
Even minor pose deviations can cause material courses to overlap or create unwanted gaps. To meet the specified and necessary manufacturing tolerances, the robot’s absolute accuracy had to be improved significantly.
High-precision robot calibration was used to measure and correct the robot’s actual geometry. Additional tools in the installation were also calibrated.
The installation achieved the precision required for automated manufacturing of high-quality composite components. Material courses could be positioned reproducibly, and process stability was improved over the long term.
