AUTOMATED WELDING WAS INTRODUCED AT UNITED AIRLINES MAINTENANCE OPERATION CENTER IN 1986. THREE OF THE SIX SYSTEMS CURRENTLY IN USE ARE DEDICATED TO THE REPAIR OF THE JET ENGINES' CRITICAL ROTATING AIR AND OIL SEALS. THE COMPUTER-CONTROLLED WELDING PROCESS PROVIDES A HIGH DEGREE OF PRECISION AND CONTROL NECESSARY TO WELD REPAIR THESE COMPONENTS WHICH CONTAIN THIN EDGES THAT MUST BE REBUILT. A FOCUSED REPAIR CELL CONCEPT HAS BEEN EMPLOYED ALLOWING FOR COMPLETE PROCESSING OF THE SEALS IN ONE WORK CENTER THEREBY REDUCING CYCLE TIME AND INVENTORY. MANY OTHER COMPONENTS ARE ALSO WELD REPAIRED USING THE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS RESULTING IN IMPROVED QUALITY AND REDUCED COSTS OVER OTHER REPAIR METHODS.
