Feasibility study for implementation of automotive measuring method in aerospace industry

Abstract: This thesis comprises an investigation in order to find possibilities to implement the method used in the automotive industry to automatically generate a collision free measurement program within the aircraft components manufacturer. The purpose with the study was to compare and analyse the different methods used to generate measurement programs at GKN Aerospace Engine Systems in Trollhättan, National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) and Volvo Cars Corporations (VCC).The study was conducted through meetings, observations and questionnaires with staff from the geometry assurance engineering (GAE) departments and measurement departments in each company. By mapping the virtual GAE process started from concept development in CAD to the measurement phase in which components are measured in coordinated measuring machines (CMM), a chain of activities was analysed.NEVS and VCC are today using RD&T and IPS to generate optimized CMM programs in which a time efficient measurement path can be generated. This method was compared with the current approach at GKN Aerospace where they use one supplier for offline CMM programming (OLP) software solutions and CMMs. They are thereby working in a closed system where the OLP communicates with the CMM by supplier specific methods. The automobile manufacturer NEVS and VCC, in contrast, uses a DMIS protocol which is an ISO and ANSI standard.The study shows that an implementation of the software used by the Swedish automobile manufacture NEVS and VCC at GKN Aerospace in Trollhättan, may not have any significant improvements regarding time savings and thereby no economic benefits. However, the approach for generating an optimized measurement program in RD&T and IPS may have major improvements in other facilities within the aerospace industry which has also resulted in an instruction manual to be used for potential implementation.