Multi-point location/support algorithm used in flexible tooling system for aircraft large-scale thin-wall workpiece

To solve problems in aircraft large-scale thin-wall workpiece machining, this paper presents a multi-point location/support algorithm used in flexible tooling system. This algorithm reconstructs workpiece as high order NURBS surface with multiple patches in matrix form, distributes target points (points to be localized and supported) according to structure constriction, computes positions of location/support spheres in vacuum heads, and checks machine tool interference. Experimental results shows that this algorithm is able to achieve high accuracy, and ensure that machine tool do not interfere with location/support spheres in edge trimming.