Machining of large scaled CFRP-Parts with mobile CNC-based robotic system in aerospace industry

Abstract Industrial robots have already demonstrated their advantages in smart and efficient production in a wide field of applications and industries. However, their use for machining of structural aircraft components is still impeded by the disadvantage of low absolute accuracy, sensitivity to process loads and limited workspace compared to large machining centers. A mobile robotic system is presented as a new approach for machining applications of large aircraft components. The system presented in this paper consists of a CNC-based serial robot kinematic with additional secondary encoder systems on every axis. The entire system is based on a Siemens CNC control, which evolves the robot to a full-featured machine tool. This setup enables additional possibilities for the implementation of extended control strategies and advanced calibration routines. Thus, high demands and challenging tolerances in aircraft manufacturing will be fulfilled, so that process times and investment cost can be reduced significantly.