GFM, AGS, Abaris and DPI to Provide Advanced Defect Repair and Inspection (ADRI) Systems for Aerospace Composite Workcells

Wilmington, Massachusetts, July 14, 2006. A team of advanced technology companies have joined forces to improve the process of repairing defects and damage in large composite aircraft structures. The Advanced Defect Repair Inspection (ADRI) team is comprised of:

• American GFM (AGFM), six axis ultrasonic cutting, scarfing and system integration, Chesapeake, VA www.agfm.com/
• Abaris Training: Advanced composite manufacturing and repair training, Reno, NV www.abaris.com/
• Assembly Guidance Systems (AGS): Laser projection and automatic ply verification (APV), Chelmsford, MA www.assemblyguide.com/
• Dimensional Photonics (DPI) non-contact digital shape scanning, Wilmington, MA www.dpi-3d.com/

The ADRI team has demonstrated a proof of concept system that automatically generates digital models of "as damaged", "as prepared for repair" and "as repaired" parts utilizing the DPI AFI 5000P. These models are used to plan repairs (Abaris) and carry out high precision automated scarfing and repair kit cutting with AGFM cutting systems. The manual repair processes are guided by the AGS LASERGUIDE with documentation of accurate repair generated with AGS Automatic Ply Verification (APV).

The ADRI Team approach offers many benefits to organizations repairing manufacturing defects and damage. The ADRI approach yields repairs in the shortest time with the greatest precision and the most comprehensive documentation. Repairs made with the ADRI system are as accurate as the original manufacturing process for the component.

Another benefit of the ADRI approach is that the team members have extensive experience in working with each other on a variety of advanced manufacturing, quality monitoring, repair and training activities. Examples of this cooperative activity include the Advanced Fighter Aircraft Initiative (AFAI) and Aging Aircraft Repair Initiative (AARI) www.agfm.com/Initiatives/Initiatives.htm. The proactive ADRI team approach also relieves the repair organization of the burden of coordinating vendor activities.

The ADRI system has been demonstrated on large aircraft structures built with both automated fiber placement and hand layup. The ADRI team offers demonstrations and seminars at facilities that perform repairs on composite aircraft.

About DPI

DPI is a leading provider of high performance digital shape scanners to global industry. DPI's scanners are plant floor capable, metrology grade and easy to use. For additional information, please visit DPI at www.dpi-3d.com/ or call at (978) 988-8825.

Media Contact

Olaf N. Krohg
181 Ballardvale Street
Dimensional Photonics International, Inc.
Wilmington, MA 01887-1050
(978) 988-8825
marketing@dpi-3d.com

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