MANUFACTURING SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES AND OTHER LARGESTRUCTURES

摘要

A production system for manufacturing a workpiece comprises an index system including a plurality of index devices removably mounted on the workpiece at known longitudinally spaced locations therealong, and a longitudinally extending index member releasably engaged with at least two of the index devices such that a position and orientation of the index are fixed relative to the workpiece by the index devices, the index member having position- indicating features distributed therealong. The production system further comprises a machine module mounted for longitudinal movement along the index member and operable to perform an operation, the machine module being operab le to detect the position-indicating features on the index member and thereby determine a position of the machine module relative to the workpiece.