Laser-guided coordination hole drilling
US8043033B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 30, 2008 |
| Grant date | Oct 25, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 4, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T409/306384
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A laser-guided coordination hole tool for precisely drilling holes in large parts includes a positioning table, a bushing cavity for receiving drill bushings, a clamping device, and a laser target. A laser-guided coordination hole tool may include a software interlock to prevent drilling in an improper location on the part. A method of drilling coordination holes includes probing a part to determine its reference frame, rigidly affixing a laser-guided coordination hole tool to the part, probing a target on the laser-guided coordination hole tool to determine the reference frame for the laser-guided coordination hole tool, accurately positioning a drill bushing over the hole location, and drilling a hole. A system for drilling coordination holes includes a laser-guided coordination hole tool, a bushing, a tooling, a drill motor, a laser tracker, and a computer running a coordination-hole drilling program.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.