An automated drilling solution comprising a FANUC cobot (collaborative robot) is using pre-
qualified tools and process parameters to accelerate aircraft production in response to
booming order books and a record backlog within aerospace manufacturing. The ADUbot
has been developed in conjunction with two partners: aerospace automation specialist
Electroimpact; and Luebbering, a manufacturer of precision fastening and drilling solutions.
By automating the traditionally manual task of drilling thousands of holes in airframes,
ADUbot will help aircraft manufacturers to achieve high levels of rapid drilling autonomy,
releasing human operatives to perform more value-added tasks.
“The record number of orders for aircraft over the next decade means that manufacturers
and suppliers are having to streamline operations and cut cycle times, while at the same
time maintain the highest standards of quality and safety,” says Oliver Selby, head of sales
at FANUC UK.
In a bid to help aircraft manufacturers increase production rates without impacting on
quality, the FANUC/Electroimpact/Lueberring partnership identified drilling as a key
application that would benefit from automation.
“Traditionally, operators rely on a standard aerospace hand tool that uses a concentric
collet locking interface to metallic drill templates or drill jigs that are attached to the wing,”
says Robert Brownbill, senior mechanical engineer at Deeside-based Electroimpact. “These
produce tens of thousands of holes in aircraft every day, yet they are all operated by hand.”
The ADUbot sees a FANUC CRX-25iA cobot take over the manual aspects of this drilling
process. It supports quick programming for the task in hand and equally fast reprogramming
for the next job. Notably, the CRX-25iA is mobile, making it especially suitable for aircraft
assembly operations.
More information www.fanuc.eu
