KUKA Systems develops robotic riveting system for Boeing 777 wide-body fuselage assembly
For KUKA Systems, the project is one of the largest it has undertaken in the aerospace sector.
Sterling Heights, MI, Augsburg, Germany, September 15, 2014 - When the Boeing 777X twin-aisle passenger jet goes into full production for its debut in 2020, each fuselage will be built using special advanced automation technology, the result of a collaborative effort by the airplane maker and the KUKA Systems Aerospace Group.
The robotic pulse production line, known as the Fuselage Automated Upright Build (FAUB), will be the baseline manufacturing process for the 777X and prior to that, for assembling fuselages for current 777 models. Its the first time Boeing will use such technology to manufacture wide-body commercial airplanes. The pulse line uses guided KUKA robots equipped with end effectors manufactured by another KUKA company, Alema Automation, to do the riveting currently performed by workers using handheld tools. The robots will work on the forward and aft sections, installing up to 60,000 fasteners per 777 fuselage, quickly and with great precision.
For KUKA Systems, the project is one of the largest it has undertaken in the aerospace sector. The companys roster of current aerospace projects includes the automated assembly of the center fuselage of a new jet fighter, an assembly line for a new super-medium class of commercial helicopter and robotic drilling platforms for a new, long-range business jet. They leverage the expertise in assembly line automation that has made KUKA Systems the largest supplier of production technology to the North American and European automotive industries.
The FAUB system, which was pre-assembled and integrated at KUKA Systems in Sterling Heights, MI, is undergoing the final phase of testing and production readiness in a Boeing facility in Anacortes, WA.
"This is a signature project for us, being able to join forces with such a global leader as Boeing," says Robert Reno, Group Vice-President, Aerospace at KUKA Systems. "Bringing KUKAs manufacturing and automation expertise to the aerospace sector is helping our customers realize important economies and efficiencies from technology that also delivers unsurpassed quality."
Featured Product
Model TR1 Tru-Trac
The Model TR1 Tru-Trac® linear measurement solution is a versatile option for tracking velocity, position, or distance over a wide variety of surfaces. An integrated encoder, measuring wheel, and spring-loaded torsion arm in one, compact unit, the Model TR1 is easy to install. The spring-loaded torsion arm offers adjustable torsion load, allowing the Model TR1 to be mounted in almost any orientation - even upside-down. The threaded shaft on the pivot axis is field reversible, providing mounting access from either side. With operating speeds up to 3000 feet per minute, a wide variety of configuration options - including multiple wheel material options - and a housing made from a durable, conductive composite material that minimizes static buildup, the Model TR1 Tru-Trac® is the ideal solution for countless applications.
