초록 ▼

A method for determining characteristics of a shim fittable between first and second bodies, comprising: (a) placing optical targets in respective sets of holes in the first and second bodies; (b) scanning respective surfaces of the first and second bodies using a three-dimensional scanner to acquir

A method for determining characteristics of a shim fittable between first and second bodies, comprising: (a) placing optical targets in respective sets of holes in the first and second bodies; (b) scanning respective surfaces of the first and second bodies using a three-dimensional scanner to acquire point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data; (c) processing the point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data to derive first deviation values representing the deviation of the surface of the first body from a nominal surface of the first body and second deviation values representing the deviation of the surface of the second body from a nominal surface of the second body; (d) correlating the first deviation values with the second deviation values based on a best fit position of the first body relative to the second body; and (e) computing shim gap values based on the correlated first and second deviation values.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for determining characteristics of a shim fittable between first and second bodies, comprising: (a) placing optical targets in holes in a first body;(b) scanning a surface of the first body using a three-dimensional scanner to acquire point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and

1. A method for determining characteristics of a shim fittable between first and second bodies, comprising: (a) placing optical targets in holes in a first body;(b) scanning a surface of the first body using a three-dimensional scanner to acquire point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data for the first body;(c) processing the point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data for the first body to derive first deviation values representing the deviation of the surface of the first body from a nominal surface of the first body for a first grid of points;(d) placing optical targets in holes in a second body;(e) scanning a surface of the second body using a three-dimensional scanner to acquire point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data, and other discrete feature data for the second body;(f) processing the point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data, and other discrete feature data for the second body to derive second deviation values representing the deviation of the surface of the second body from a nominal surface of the second body for a second grid of points;(g) correlating the first deviation values with the second deviation values based on a best fit position of the first body relative to the second body; and(h) computing shim gap values based on said correlated first and second deviation values. 2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: using said shim gap values to develop a shim model; andmaking a shim in accordance with said shim model. 3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein process (c) comprises: deriving hole/surface intersect points for the first body using point cloud scan data surrounding hole locations indicated by said measured hole vector data for the first body;fitting the scanned surface of the first body to a nominal surface of the first body using said derived hole/surface intersect points;extrapolating the point cloud scan data for the first body to points of said first grid of points; andcomputing said first deviation values. 4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein process (f) comprises: deriving hole/surface intersect points for the second body using point cloud scan data surrounding hole locations indicated by said measured hole vector data for the second body using said derived hole/surface intersect points;fitting the scanned surface of the second body to a nominal surface of the second body;extrapolating the point cloud scan data for the second body to points of said second grid of points; andcomputing said second deviation values. 5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said deriving hole/surface intersect points for the first body comprises averaging point cloud points within a specified radius of a hole location. 6. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said extrapolating the point cloud scan data for the first body comprises averaging point cloud points within a specified radius of a point of said first grid of points. 7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein process (g) comprises: establishing relationships between first body data and second body data; andoptimizing a virtual fit between the first and second bodies. 8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first grid of points are uniformly spaced. 9. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein process (c) further comprises trimming the point cloud scan data for the first body to eliminate extraneous data using a normal boundary prior to extrapolating the point cloud scan data for the first body. 10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first body is a wing box and the second body is a strut fitting. 11. A system for determining characteristics of a shim fittable between first and second bodies, comprising a computer system programmed to execute the following operations: (a) processing point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data for the first body to derive first deviation values representing the deviation of the surface of the first body from a nominal surface of the first body for a first grid of points;(b) processing point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data for the second body to derive second deviation values representing the deviation of the surface of the second body from a nominal surface of the second body for a second grid of points that matches said first grid of points;(c) correlating the first deviation values with the second deviation values based on a best fit position of the first body relative to the second body;(d) computing shim gap values for said grid of points based on said correlated first and second deviation values; and(e) using said shim gap values to develop a shim model. 12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein operation (a) comprises: deriving hole/surface intersect points for the first body using point cloud scan data surrounding hole locations indicated by said measured hole vector data for the first body;fitting the scanned surface of the first body to a nominal surface of the first body using said derived hole/surface intersect points;extrapolating the point cloud scan data for the first body to points of said first grid of points; andcomputing said first deviation values. 13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said deriving hole/surface intersect points for the first body comprises averaging point cloud points within a specified radius of a hole location. 14. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said extrapolating the point cloud scan data for the first body comprises averaging point cloud points within a specified radius of a point of said first grid of points. 15. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein operation (c) comprises: establishing relationships between first body data and second body data; andoptimizing a virtual fit between the first and second bodies. 16. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein operation (a) further comprises trimming the point cloud scan data for the first body to eliminate extraneous data using a normal boundary prior to extrapolating the point cloud scan data for the first body. 17. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the first body is a wing box and the second body is a strut fitting. 18. A method for determining characteristics of a shim that conforms to surfaces of first and second bodies, comprising: attaching a drill jig having a plurality of drill bushings to the first body;locating the drill bushings in accordance with the measurements of wing features;drilling holes in the first body at the locations of the drill bushings;removing the drill jig from the first body;placing optical targets in the drilled holes in the first body;scanning the surface of the first body using a three-dimensional scanner to acquire point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data for the first body;placing optical targets in the holes in the second body;scanning the surface of the second body using a three-dimensional scanner to acquire point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data for the second body;processing the point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data for the first and second bodies to derive shim gap values; andusing said shim gap values to develop a shim model. 19. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising: making a shim in accordance with said shim model; andplacing the shim between the surfaces of the first and second bodies. 20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the first body is a wing box and the second body is a strut fitting.