Keywords
Citation
(2000), "Milling machine for Airbus wings", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 72 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2000.12772fab.006
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited
Milling machine for Airbus wings
Milling machine for Airbus wings
Keywords: BAe Systems, Airbus, Furmanite, Milling, Wings
A pylon milling machine designed and produced for BAe Systems Airbus UK by engineering solutions specialist Furmanite, is now being used in the manufacture of the wings for the new variant Airbus A340-600, due to be brought into operation in 2002.
The lightweight milling machine is designed to attach to the A-frame jig to enable the part of the wings known as the plateau, to which the pylons holding the outboard engines are attached, to be milled in situ on the wing jig. It was put into commission in mid-March.
Furmanite has previously designed and supplied pylon milling machines to Airbus UK for use on earlier Airbus variants, including a design that won the bronze BAe Systems Chairman's Award for Innovation. Their use is said to save up to 16 hours in the time taken to make each set of wings. This is said to be achieved by overcoming the need to remove the plateaux to be milled flat for a precise fit, as well as avoiding the risk of distortion when refitted onto the aircraft. The time and cost benefits are believed to be substantial.
On this latest variant for the Airbus A340-600, Furmanite worked closely with Airbus UK at the jig development stage, using the latest computer-aided 3D design, so that the milling machine and jig designs could be integrated, to achieve optimum performance.
The result is described by Furmanite as a highly accurate, "picture frame" milling machine around 800-900mm square and 500mm deep, built using light-weight materials (ensuring that the A-frames are not distorted when the machine is mounted), that will mill to an accuracy of within less than 0.1mm.
Commenting on the new design, Furmanite project engineer, Richard Brown, explained: "By working closely with Airbus, UK we were able to design a milling machine that is fully integrated into the jig, to mill in situ, producing the high degree of flatness, that is essential, and offering substantial time and therefore cost savings".
Airbus UK tool design draftsman, Alan Ellson, commented: "We turned to Furmanite due to their experience and expertise in this field, and have worked with them very successfully".
Details available from Furmanite International Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 1242 52887.