Optimization of press bend forming path of aircraft integral panel

In order to design the press bend forming path of aircraft integral panels,a novel optimization method was proposed, which integrates FEM equivalent model based on previous study,the artificial neural network response surface,and the genetic algorithm.First,a multi-step press bend forming FEM equivalent model was established,with which the FEM experiments designed with Taguchi method were performed.Then,the BP neural network response surface was developed with the sample data from the FEM experiments.Furthermore,genetic algorithm was applied with the neural network response surface as the objective function. Finally,verification was carried out on a simple curvature grid-type stiffened panel.The forming error of the panel formed with the optimal path is only 0.098 39 and the calculating efficiency has been improved by 77%.Therefore,this novel optimization method is quite efficient and indispensable for the press bend forming path designing.

Principal Face-based Recognition Approach for Machining Features of Aircraft Integral Panels

Feature recognition aims at extracting manufacturing features with geometrical information from solid model and is considered to be an efficient way of changing the interactive NC machining programming mode.Existing recognition methods have some disadvantages in practical applications.They can essentially handle prismatic components with regular shapes and are difficult to recognize the intersecting features and curved surfaces.Besides,the robustness of them is not strong enough.A new feature recognition approach is proposed based on the analysis of aircraft integral panels＇ geometry and machining characteristics.In this approach,the aircraft integral panel is divided into a number of local machining domains.The machining domains are extracted and recognized first by finding the principal face of machining domain and extracting the sides around the principal face.Then the machining domains are divided into various features in terms of the face type.The main sections of the proposed method are presented including the definition,classification and structure of machining domain,the relationship between machining domain and principal face loop,the rules of machining domains recognition,and the algorithm of machining feature recognition.In addition,a robotic feature recognition module is developed for aircraft integral panels and tested with several panels.Test results show that the strategy presented is robust and valid.Features extracted can be post processed and linked to various downstream applications.The approach is able to solve the difficulties in recognizing the aircraft integral panel＇s features and automatic obtaining the machining zone in NC programming,and can be used to further develop the automatic programming of NC machining.

Slicing Recognition of Aircraft Integral Panel Generalized Pocket

To automatically obtain a machining area in numerical control （NC） programming, a data model of generalized pocket is established by analyzing aircraft integral panel characteristics, and a feature recognition approach is proposed. First, by reference to the practical slice-machining process of an aircraft integral panel, both the part and the blank are sliced in the Z-axis direction; hence a feature profile is created according to the slicing planes and the contours are formed by the intersection of the slicing planes with the part and its blank. Second, the auxiliary features of the generalized pocket are also determined based on the face type and the position, to correct the profile of the pocket. Finally, the generalized pocket feature relationship tree is constructed by matching the vertical relationships among the features. Machining feature information produced by using this method can be directly used to calculate the cutter path. The validity and practicability of the method is verified by NC programming for aircraft panels.