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BAe Extends Computer Integration at Chester Factory

BAe Extends Computer Integration at Chester Factory BAe Extends Computer Integration at Chester Factory COST savings which followed the recent introduction of distributed numerical control (DNC) of machine tools at the British Aerospace factory in Chester have led technical systems manager, Hedley Evans to expand the system into three other key manufac­ turing areas. These include the small parts machine shop, the 125 routing shop and the wing skin auto-rivetting and bolting area. Supplied by BAeCAM, Preston, 'CIMITAR' DNC was initially applied to very large gantry-type and twin- spindle milling machines used for pro­ ducing wing skins for the A300, 310 and 320 Airbus. Between 36 and 70 punched tapes were previously needed to produce a wing skin and total machine downtime for program loading could be as high as 16 hours. Programs are now loaded directly from the digital MicroVAX cell com­ puter through a fibre-optic link, and there is virtually no idle time. Punched tape is no longer used (except for A mimic facility clearly indicates to archieve purposs and back up to DNC the machine shop supervisor all shop system network), and the overall cost floor activities which have been brought saving enabled the £130,000 investment under the control of the CIMITAR in the CIMITAR DNC to be amortised system. A feedback package within the in one year of operation. system enables the supervisor to analyse A MicroVAX 3100 computer within machine shop performance and activities. the factory network operates the system The new DNC applications CIMITAR DNC is interfaced with a through the ETHERNET fibre optic Twelve machines in the small parts shop CIMITAR PPAS (Part Program Ad­ link in the Airbus machine shop and a handle batches of 30 to 40 components ministration System) ordering service in wall-mounted DECserver in the router with cycle times of 6 to 8 hours. In this use at Chester and will also be connected shop. A mixture of copper serial lines application, DNC gives better control with a tool management system in the and fibre optic links are used within the of scheduling and shop management, near future for managing procurement, system to suit different machine types and time savings on program loading storage, issue and tracking of tools, and requirements for electrical noise are substantial, although lower than for assemblies, gauges, jigs and fixtures levels. wing skin milling. within the factory. In the most recent application, the Part programs are stored in a Digital In the 125 router shop, CIMITAR CIMITAR DNC has been applied to MircroVAX computer which is linked DNC has been applied to an Asquith eight GEMCOR Drivmatic machines to the main Chester factory network. A machine with AB8600-IWS CNC, two for drilling, rivetting and bolting serial RS232 link communicates with KTM Max-E-Trace and two Min-E- operations on Airbus wing skins. the computer and machines through Trace machines with Kongsberg controls. BAeCAM, Guild Centre Offices, floor-mounted DECservers connected The installation gives benefits in areas of Lords Walk, Preston, Lancashire. to an ETHERNET LAN for the machine product quality, shorter production PR1 1RE. Tel: 0772 204090. Fax: shop. times and better shop supervision. 0772 205114. 14 AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING — April 1991 http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology Emerald Publishing

BAe Extends Computer Integration at Chester Factory

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology , Volume 63 (4): 1 – Apr 1, 1991
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Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
ISSN
0002-2667
DOI
10.1108/eb037083
Publisher site
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Abstract

BAe Extends Computer Integration at Chester Factory COST savings which followed the recent introduction of distributed numerical control (DNC) of machine tools at the British Aerospace factory in Chester have led technical systems manager, Hedley Evans to expand the system into three other key manufac­ turing areas. These include the small parts machine shop, the 125 routing shop and the wing skin auto-rivetting and bolting area. Supplied by BAeCAM, Preston, 'CIMITAR' DNC was initially applied to very large gantry-type and twin- spindle milling machines used for pro­ ducing wing skins for the A300, 310 and 320 Airbus. Between 36 and 70 punched tapes were previously needed to produce a wing skin and total machine downtime for program loading could be as high as 16 hours. Programs are now loaded directly from the digital MicroVAX cell com­ puter through a fibre-optic link, and there is virtually no idle time. Punched tape is no longer used (except for A mimic facility clearly indicates to archieve purposs and back up to DNC the machine shop supervisor all shop system network), and the overall cost floor activities which have been brought saving enabled the £130,000 investment under the control of the CIMITAR in the CIMITAR DNC to be amortised system. A feedback package within the in one year of operation. system enables the supervisor to analyse A MicroVAX 3100 computer within machine shop performance and activities. the factory network operates the system The new DNC applications CIMITAR DNC is interfaced with a through the ETHERNET fibre optic Twelve machines in the small parts shop CIMITAR PPAS (Part Program Ad­ link in the Airbus machine shop and a handle batches of 30 to 40 components ministration System) ordering service in wall-mounted DECserver in the router with cycle times of 6 to 8 hours. In this use at Chester and will also be connected shop. A mixture of copper serial lines application, DNC gives better control with a tool management system in the and fibre optic links are used within the of scheduling and shop management, near future for managing procurement, system to suit different machine types and time savings on program loading storage, issue and tracking of tools, and requirements for electrical noise are substantial, although lower than for assemblies, gauges, jigs and fixtures levels. wing skin milling. within the factory. In the most recent application, the Part programs are stored in a Digital In the 125 router shop, CIMITAR CIMITAR DNC has been applied to MircroVAX computer which is linked DNC has been applied to an Asquith eight GEMCOR Drivmatic machines to the main Chester factory network. A machine with AB8600-IWS CNC, two for drilling, rivetting and bolting serial RS232 link communicates with KTM Max-E-Trace and two Min-E- operations on Airbus wing skins. the computer and machines through Trace machines with Kongsberg controls. BAeCAM, Guild Centre Offices, floor-mounted DECservers connected The installation gives benefits in areas of Lords Walk, Preston, Lancashire. to an ETHERNET LAN for the machine product quality, shorter production PR1 1RE. Tel: 0772 204090. Fax: shop. times and better shop supervision. 0772 205114. 14 AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING — April 1991

Journal

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology – Emerald Publishing

Published: Apr 1, 1991

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