Tool having magnetic material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10831173-B2
Application number	US-201715675252-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2017
Priority date	Aug 11, 2017
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

A method is presented. A machine head is positioned in a desired location relative to a material on a tool using a sensor connected to the machine head and calibrated to detect magnetic material in the tool. An operation is performed on the material using the machine head starting at the desired location.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for positioning a machine head, the method comprising:
disposing a magnetic material, serving as a locational reference for identifying a desired location, in a tool;
positioning a first surface of a material on the tool;
positioning the machine head in the desired location relative to a second surface of the material via moving the machine head relative to the tool along a preset path and stopping the machine head in response to detecting a first portion of the magnetic material in the tool via using a sensor that is:
connected to the machine head; and
configured to detect the magnetic material disposed in the tool; and

performing an operation on the material using the machine head starting the operation is started at the desired location.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
moving the tool relative to the machine head along a second preset path, wherein positioning the machine head in the desired location comprises stopping the tool from moving along the preset path in response to the sensor detecting the first portion of magnetic material in the tool.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
stopping the operation on the material based on readings from the sensor.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the operation is drilling, and wherein stopping the operation comprises stopping the drilling when the machine head has moved one of a desired distance or a maximum distance based on a thickness of the material determined from a strength of a magnetic field detected by the sensor.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation is drilling, the method further comprising:
automatically stopping the drilling when the material has been drilled to a desired depth.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the machine head comprises locating the sensor relative to a first portion of magnetic material in the tool.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material is a composite material, the method further comprising:
laying down the composite material on the tool; and
curing the composite material on the tool prior to positioning the machine head.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein curing the composite material on the tool comprises providing a magnetic field via heating the magnetic material that is embedded within the tool.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
detecting the magnetic material by the sensor utilizing a Hall Effect sensor.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
removing the material from the tool after performing the operation;
positioning a second material on the tool;
positioning the machine head in the desired location relative to the second material on the tool using the sensor; and
performing the operation on the second material using the machine head starting at the desired location.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
positioning the machine head in a second desired location relative to the material on the tool using the sensor; and
performing the operation on the material using the machine head starting at the second desired location.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
positioning the machine head in a second desired location relative to the material on the tool using the sensor; and
performing a second operation on the material using the machine head starting at the second desired location.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein a first portion of magnetic material associated with the desired location has a first set of characteristics, wherein positioning the machine head in the second desired location comprises locating the sensor relative to a second portion of magnetic material having a second set of characteristics in the tool, wherein the first set of characteristics is different than the second set of characteristics.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material on the tool is a part, the method further comprising:
connecting the tool to the part.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
disconnecting the tool from the part after performing the operation;
connecting the tool to a second part;
positioning the machine head in the desired location relative to the second part using the sensor; and
performing the operation on the second part using the machine head starting at the desired location.

16. A system configured to position a machine head, such that the system comprises:
a magnetic material positioned in a tool as a locational reference;
a device to secure a material to the tool;
the machine head configured to perform an operation at a position identified relative to the magnetic material in the tool, such that an operational component connects to the machine head to perform the operation; and
a sensor connected to the machine head and configured to detect, through the material, the magnetic material in the tool; and
a controller configured to:
locate, based upon a detection by the sensor, the machine head in a desired location relative to the material on the tool;
move the machine head relative to the tool;
stop the machine head at the position in response a detection by the sensor of a first portion of magnetic material in the tool.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to instruct the machine head to perform the operation on the material starting at the position.

18. A method for positioning a machine head relative to a material comprising a surface lacking a reference feature, the method comprising:
using a magnetic material as a locational reference relative to the surface of the material lacking the reference feature by providing a tool, holding the material lacking the reference feature, with the magnetic material disposed therein;
positioning the material lacking the reference feature and being operated on by the machine head by:
positioning the magnetic material in the tool with a second magnetic material disposed therein; and
connecting the material lacking the reference feature to the tool;

positioning the machine head in a desired location on the surface of the material relative to the magnetic material using a sensor, on the machine head, configured to detect the magnetic material;
performing an operation on the material lacking the reference feature using the machine head via starting the operation at the desired location on the surface of the material via sensing the magnetic material disposed in the tool;
moving the machine head relative to the tool along a preset path, wherein positioning the machine head in the desired location on the surface of the material comprises stopping the machine head from moving along the preset path in response to the sensor detecting a first portion of magnetic material in the tool;
stopping, using readings from the sensor, the operation on the material lacking the reference feature using readings from the sensor;
positioning, using the sensor and the magnetic material in the tool, the machine head in a second desired location relative to the material lacking the reference feature on the tool; and
performing, using the machine head starting at the second desired location, a second operation on the material lacking the reference feature.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein positioning the machine head in the desired location on the surface of the material comprises stopping the machine head from moving along the preset path.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the operation is drilling.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein s

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Knutson Samuel James
• Suriyaarachchi Raviendra Sidath
• Mathis Dennis R

Classifications

• G05B19/402 Primary

  characterised by control arrangements for positioning, e.g. centring a tool relative to a hole in the workpiece, additional detection means to correct position (G05B19/19 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05B2219/43134

  Feed or speed as function of magnetic characteristic, code, form of tool · CPC title

• G05B19/19 Primary

  characterised by positioning or contouring control systems, e.g. to control position from one programmed point to another or to control movement along a programmed continuous path · CPC title

• G05B2219/37124

  Magnetic sensor · CPC title

• G05B2219/37338

  Magnetic or electric property of tool to control feed · CPC title