Tecnatom contributes to increase productivity on inspection panels at Airbus Nantes site

The first one is already operating at Airbus Nantes plant and it helps increasing productivity in the inspection of cylindrical panels, which are incorporated in the A380, A350, A320neo and A330neo aircraft. The second system, which is an evolved version of the first, has just passed the pre-acceptance testing and will be in production early next year.

Both systems are very similar, but thanks to a close cooperation with the customer, the latter has enhanced capabilities. It is a Taurus robotic system of new generation, dedicated to ultrasonic inspections of revolution parts made of carbon fibre composite through air transmission technique. This technique is essential for the inspection of special parts, such as acoustic panels, because they have a core of paper and is not possible the use of water for ultrasonic transmission, which adds difficulty to the inspection technique.

Furthermore, software for data acquisition – InspectView – has been improved and also electronic system Sonia (both own patented technology by Tecnatom). Probes on air of low frequency have been used and they are getting good results, detecting all defects required. Another improvement incorporated in the systems is a lighter carbon fibre yoke, and a new robot and controller able to increase accuracy and double the speed in data transmission. This system has also incorporated new technology in order to increase safety levels during operation, protecting both people and the pieces and other elements, too.

Finally, the system also includes an application of geometries recognition, called Geolid and also developed by Tecnatom, which allows recognition of the piece from its geometry, and selects from the file trajectories for inspection, the one which corresponds. In addition, it also monitors that the position of the workpiece in tooling, and the latter within the space of inspection, are correct in levelling and alignment, interrupting inspection otherwise to prevent damage in the piece to be inspected.

These two systems for Airbus Nantes add to other inspection equipment also based on robots that Tecnatom has already in operation in Corse Composites Aéronautiques and Daher-Socata factories, in addition to others provided by its French subsidiary Metalscan.

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