Research On Aircraft Assembly Tooling Change Technology Under MBD Environment

With the development of MBD in our country’s aviation units, to develop tools which can fastenthe changing speed of the aircraft tooling under MBD environment is the problem needed to be solved.In the course of aircraft development, frequent aircraft design changes result in design changes ofassembly tooling. In this article, different solutions to achieve rapid change of tooling design areproposed based on the analysis of different change types of aircraft MBD models. Top-downcorrelation design is applied to assembly tooling design. On this basis, Design Structure Matrix (DSM)is employed to make change propagation predictions of assembly tooling design. Fast change toolsetis developed with CAA technology. The change efficiency of assembly tooling design is improved.The major research work is as follows:Firstly, according to the specific circumstances and requirements of the research subject, overalldesign scheme of the toolset is presented. The design and manufacturing process of aircrafts underMBD environment is introduced. As a part of the whole process, the design process of assemblytooling is discussed in detail. With the analysis of the change types of coordinative features, thedesign and change analysis schemes of assembly tooling are proposed.Secondly, top-down correlation design is applied to assembly tooling design. The basicknowledge and implementation process in aircraft design of top-down correlation design is introduced.On the basis of study on the difference of aircraft design and assembly tooling design the way to usetop-down correlation design in assembly tooling design is raised.Thirdly, DSM based on parts is employed to make change propagation analysis of assemblytooling design. The concepts and classifications of DSM and EC are explained and the usage of DSMin EC analysis is researched. The method to take advantage of DSM based on the parts of assemblytooling and quasi-switch model based on correlated features in the analysis of change propagation isstudied.Finally, fast change toolset is developed with CAA technology on the basis of the theory above.An example of assembly tooling is analyzed which indicates the toolset is effective and practical.