Large Jig Verification Project

Abstract

An A380 wing assembly jig is recertified periodically: the hinge lines for spoilers and ailerons are the features that matter, and roughly 150 points are measured each time. If they are in tolerance the tool goes back to production; if not, it is reworked. Geraint Jones describes a project to understand and improve the capability of that jig health measurement process itself, working through the four things that govern it – the instrument, the environment, the measured features and the measured object – with Axyz and Spatial Analyzer. The benefits sought were less rework from measurement variation, better accuracy and repeatability, better product performance, and a capability database for designing the next wing and its tooling.