DISSIMILAR MATERIAL STACKUPS OF COMPOSITE AND TITANIUM REQUIRE UNIQUE SPEEDS TO OPTIMIZE THE DRILLING PROCESS. NORTHROP AND ROCKWELL INDUSTRIAL TOOLS HAVE JOINTLY DEVELOPED A PRODUCTION DRILL MOTOR WHICH INCORPORATES THRUST AND TORQUE SENSORS. IN-PROCESS THRUST AND TORQUE IS SENSED AND USED TO AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT A DRILL MOTOR BETWEEN LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS DEPENDING ON THE HARDNESS OF THE MATERIAL BEING DRILLED. THE SYSTEM ALSO HELPS ENSURE HOLE QUALITY BY SENSING DULL CUTTERS AND WARNING THE OPERATOR. THE BENEFITS REALIZED IN THE NORTHROP B-2 FINAL ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS INCLUDE: A 300% REDUCTION IN DRILLING CYCLE TIME; A 200% IMPROVEMENT INCUTTER LIFE, AND A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN HOLE QUALITY.
| Number of Pages : | 22 |
| Published : | 06/01/1990 |
