LASER PLY PROJECTION INSTALLATION

Laser Ply Projection systems have been installed in many aerospace com panies in the past few years. This technology uses a laser beam to loc ate each ply, core or stiffener in a composite part on the lay-up tool . The laser system input can come from Unigraphics or CATIA design dat abase or from part boundaries taught by the system using the lasers to digitize the edge. The old technology uses Plastic Apply Templates (P AT) to locate each ply by transferring the edge located from the templ ate to the lay-zip tool. Each ply, cove or stiffener in the composite part will be positioned using the PAT in the old process. The PAT must be placed on the lay-up tool each and every time to locate the positi on of each ply, core and stiffener: The Boeing Company in Mesa, Arizon a, identified the need and secured approval in October 1996 The specif ication was prepared for our system, procurement started in January 19 97, and installed in April 1997 This resulted in a 12-week delivery sc hedule for the equipment. Four laser systems were designed and configu red to allow a variety of different lay-up tools in each work area. Fl exibility in our system design allowed us the capability to teach mult iple stations. The systems cart be configured as a one, two, three and four-projection head unit mounted on a pedestal or Mobile A-frame sta nd Installations of Retro-reflective targets were installed on the lay -up tools for alignment and calibration with the laser projector. The Laser Projection technology has demonstrated cost savings in the lay-u p operation. This paper will deal with the implementation and lessons learned during and after installation of this technology.