Ascent expands portfolio with faster, more accurate aerospace robotics

Ascent Aerospace, a leading provider of aircraft assembly line integration services, has added Exechon Enterprises LLC's parallel kinematic robots to their portfolio of manufacturing automation solutions. Exechon's Parallel Kinematic Machine (PKM) technology offers the stiffness of a machine tool with the dynamic 5-axis capability of an articulated-arm robot, for faster, more accurate assembly and higher overall equipment effectiveness.

Exechon's latest innovation, the XMini, is accurate to 30mu, a step-change improvement over existing aerospace robotic solutions, which are limited in stiffness and speed. XMini's rigid PKM technology maintains accuracy to 3G acceleration, for faster cycle times. Unlike traditional machine tool monuments, the light, carbon fiber XMini can be mounted in any orientation, even upside down, for full 5-axis capability. The modular XMini can be taken apart and reassembled inside spaces traditionally inaccessible to machines or people, such as an aircraft wing box.

The XMini can be found on display in the Ascent Aerospace booth at the Farnborough International Airshow 2018.

Ascent Aerospace has entered into a licensing agreement with Exechon Enterprises LLC, a joint-venture company comprising Abu Dhabi-based Injaz National, U.S. global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin, and Sweden-based Tecgrant AB. The agreement authorizes Ascent to integrate Exechon's parallel kinematic robots into their automated manufacturing cells.