Product category:
Process, instrumentation and automation control software
News Release from: Metrix Software Solutions
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 21 July 2004
BAE Systems signs for software for JSF
programme
Metrix Build!IT software has been selected by BAE Systems in Samlesbury, England, for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter tooling production and inspection.
Metrix Build!IT software has been selected by BAE Systems in Samlesbury, England, for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter tooling production and inspection The Metrix Build!IT software interactively works with portable co-ordinate measurement machines (CMMs) such as laser trackers and mechanical arms to provide efficient and reliable CAD-to-part measurement, tool building and dimensional inspection solutions
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is being developed for the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.
Lockheed Martin (Fort Worth, Texas) has partnered with BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman to deliver a common fighter aircraft design.
The resounding mandate of the JSF project is leaner-than-lean manufacturing based upon a digital concept-through-manufacturing process.
Maya's Metrix Build!IT software is a key part of this "digital thread", allowing BAE engineers to transfer complete 3D CAD models with GD and T features and tolerances from Catia for use on the shop floor in tool building and assembly inspection.
The aft fuselage and empennage (tails and fins) for each F-35 JSF will be designed, engineered and built at the BAE Systems Samlesbury site, using the latest in advanced development and manufacturing technology.
According to John Duxbury, Aft Fuselage IPT Lead at BAE Systems: "Metrix Build!IT software, together with portable CMMs, is a critical tool to support the digital design-through-build process on JSF".
"It helps BAE SYSTEMS achieve its manufacturing goals and deliver quality systems on time".
Rather than older and inefficient rigid structure tooling designs, BAE Systems is using innovative modular tooling systems for JSF.
The JSF modular tooling concept, together with Metrix Build!IT and laser trackers, allows tool builders to quickly assemble tooling details as well as make modifications.
This allows the programme to constantly upgrade the processes without expensive changes to tooling as well as satisfy the variations in aircraft design with a minimum number of tools.
Metrix Build!IT directly reads the Catia tool master models as well as their associated features and tolerances.
In addition, Metrix Build!IT can inspect directly to the GD and T on the model as well as return measurement results to BAE Systems quality data management systems for further analysis and archiving.
Design changes are easily transferred to Metrix Build!IT and are immediately available on the shop floor.
Metrix Build!IT provides a graphical 3D metrology environment which is superior to working with drawings and spreadsheet representations of the data.
It also helps to eliminate potential errors introduced by interpreting nongraphical information.
"Through the use of Metrix Build!IT the laser tracker becomes a much more efficient tool allowing the operator to work directly in 3D on the actual design geometry".
"Also savings of up to 50% in design hours have been seen on certain tool types", states Will Scott, Tool Design Licence Holder at BAE Systems in Samlesbury.
"A single metrology software drives all of our portable CMMs and digitally interfaces directly with our engineering design and quality data management systems".
"This allows BAE Systems to build and inspect more efficiently and eliminates many potential errors".
With the tight tolerances the JSF team is trying to maintain it is essential to be able to fabricate and validate a tool quickly and accurately.
Metrix Build!IT is an essential part of that process for the BAE Systems Joint Strike Fighter programme.
It continues to help BAE Systems reduce costs, improve efficiency and reduce the number of tools in order to fulfil their commitments within the JSF team.
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