Accudyne Systems automated stringer former keeps rotorcraft flying

Accudyne's Automated Stringer Former has been producing “T” and “C” shaped stringers for the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey for more than seven years. An operator places ply kits, one at a time, onto the machine which then picks, places and forms each kit over the tool. The kits are formed around the tool using a combination of pressure and heat. After the last kit has been formed, a radius filler (noodle) is automatically placed into the part. The machine then rotates the tool for easy access as the operator removes the part for autoclave curing. Average time for producing the approximately 1.3 meter long (4 ft) stringers is eight minutes. The recipe driven software enables the fabrication of 160 different stringers.