AEA technology has picked up its first major order for robotics equipment from an aerospace customer, for use in the production of an electro-thermal de-icing system on the leading edges of helicopter blades.
Aerospace Composite Technologies has placed the ú500,000 ($795,000) order with the aim of increasing production volumes and the quality of its "Spraymat" de-icing system, which is applied manually by spraying metal onto a glass-reinforced plastic substrate. Didcot, UK-based AEA claims that automating the process will allow a fivefold increase in production throughput, while improving the consistency of the coating.
The AEA system will automate the entire spraying process. The finished product is automatically inspected by testing the integrity of each blade-heater mat, using a thermal-imaging camera built into the robot.
The system will be based on a Staubli Unimation RX130 robot, with AEA responsible for overall design, procurement of subsystems, manufacture, delivery and commissioning. It is due to become operational by mid-1997.
Source: Flight International