HUNTSVILLE – Huntsville-based Aerobotix and Austria-based FerRobotics have developed a long-needed solution to the aerospace industry’s need for an automated tool to make precision masking tape applications.
The Active Taping Kit allows for smooth masking on parts varying in shape and puts down straight tape lines for painting.
After months of prototypes and testing during the pandemic, the new tool was completed, with FerRobotics’ patented Active Compliant Technology enabling a robot to use varying pressure when applying tape to an aircraft.
“Customers have been asking Aerobotix to automate the masking process for years,” said Chris Kolb, Aerobotix vice president of sales. “The response was always ‘wouldn’t that be great,’ but the technology required to do it correctly just wasn’t available yet.
“The FerRobotics ACT device lets the robot ‘feel’ the part and instantly adjust the pressure used to apply the tape. We needed this sensitivity to put masking tape down correctly and not damage high value parts.”
The ATK features precision control of the individual process parameters – contact force, cutting, and tape consumption. The ready-to-use solution offers robot-compatible sensitive tape application combined with all the benefits of the ACT system cooperation, the company said.
“The ATK offers the highest process quality from one source, and with a design that’s compact and light,” said Dr. Ronald Naderer, FerRobotics founder and CEO. “It’s extremely durable and is designed to apply various kinds of tapes on any part or surface with exact repeatability and without bubbles or wrinkles.
“This joint project with Aerobotix has resulted in an innovative product that should thoroughly satisfy customer needs.”
The company said the ATK exceeded expectations for precision and reliability when it underwent testing at Aerobotix’s in-house process laboratory. It is predicted to revolutionize the painting process and is being tested on several aircraft.
Funding was provided by the Air Force Research Laboratory.
“We jokingly call it our pandemic baby,” said Kent Pfeifer, Aerobotix Process Engineering manager who led the project’s U.S. team. “Both of our companies had some extra bandwidth during the pandemic disruptions, and because AFRL had some funding to back us, we just went for it.
“We are running all types of masking tapes through the ATK and, so far, they’re all working great.
“What we didn’t realize going into this is that having the robot put down the first tape lines saves the painters a ton of time and errors, as they then don’t have to measure or use templates to get the tape lines accurate. The savings, in time and costs, are exceeding all our expectations.”
In November, the ATK was nominated for the Econovius, a special prize under the Austrian National Innovation Award.
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