ORMEC Systems Corp. has been awarded two new turn-key upgrade projects for C-17 Globemaster III airframe assembly tooling. The first control system upgrade project is for C-17 Hanging Gardens Tail Dock Tooling and the second is for C-17 Wing Docks Tooling. Both systems are part of the overall aircraft assembly processes in The Boeing Company’s Long Beach, CA facility.
Both assembly tooling upgrades are part of an aircraft production cycle that does not permit extended downtime for maintenance, repairs or upgrades. Project requirements dictate a very aggressive production schedule for the retrofit, installation and start-up of the ORMEC systems.
ORMEC’s extensive experience with aircraft assembly tooling upgrades includes upgrading the recent Major Join and Wing Join Tool systems at the Boeing Long Beach facility and on the Under Wing Maintenance Tool system at Robins Air Force Base in Houston County, Georgia.
“A core competency of the ORMEC engineering and start up team is our proven ability to cost-effectively retrofit Aircraft Assembly Tools. On these new projects, our common objective is to upgrade the current systems with reliable, long-lifecycle, state-of-the-art hardware and software,” says Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Dennis Morrow. “We are also extremely proud to be working with Boeing again in support of the C-17 airlifter.”
More than 12 SMLC controllers along with 52 ORMEC servo motors and 52 SDM series servo drives will be used for communication, motion control and monitoring of the Tail and Wing Docking tools. The systems will be controlled through updated operator interface consoles with touch screens for ease-of-use and remote pendants for flexibility. With high performance computing capability and a true real-time operating system, SMLC controllers offer the benefits of both multi-axis motion control and PLC functionality within a single package. For airframe components to be properly joined, the use of high-precision and highly reliable servo systems and software is essential.
ORMEC
www.ormec.com
::Design World::
Filed Under: Aerospace + defense, Machine tools + subtractive manufacturing, AUTOMATION, Motion control • motor controls
