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Publication Details
| Published Date: | |
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| Citation: | David Orozco, Lockheed Martin, Engineering LDP |
Abstract
The F-35 is produced in three variants: the Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) variant, the Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant, and the Carrier Variant (CV). In order to ensure the desired performance characteristics on each aircraft, the Gap and Mismatch must be measured on more than 1,000 seams, with each seam being verified as within tolerance.
Previously, F-35 seam validation had been accomplished using a measurement system which relied on Wi-Fi to transfer data from the measurement device to a laptop. In addition to the security and reliability concerns associated with using a Wi-Fi based system, updates to the systems in the factory required files to be manually loaded to dozens of laptops via thumb drive. With more than 3000 aircraft projected to be produced over the next several decades, a new, scalable solution for handling seam validation was required.
In order to keep pace with the needs of full rate production, a network based seam validation system, Seam Validation Management System (SVMS) Link, was developed using the measurement device’s Software Development Kit (SDK). This network based solution provided a variety of benefits over the previous seam validation system, such as the ability to seamlessly manage configuration control over the measurement systems on the production line and the ability to easily download check plans and upload results for the many seams on the aircraft. Equally as important, the old measurement devices could be upgraded for use with the new SVMS Link.
This presentation discusses the previous seam measurement system, development and testing of the network based seam solution, and advantages of the new solution.
