Controlling spring back of a sheet of material following machining operations

Abstract

A machining system configured to reduce spring back following machining operations comprising a machining tool and a spring back control system. The spring back control system comprises a number of force generators and a number of force loaded members coupled to the number of force generators, each force loaded member of the number of force loaded members comprising a material contact surface.

1 . A method of controlling spring back of a sheet of material following a machining operation using a machining system, the method comprising:
 applying a compression force to the sheet using a spring back control system of the machining system, the spring back control system comprising a number of force generators coupled to a number of force loaded members in contact with a surface of the sheet to form a region of applied compressive force, wherein each force loaded member of the number of force loaded members comprises a material contact surface in contact with the surface of the sheet; and   completing a machining operation through the region of the surface of the sheet using a machining tool while the compression force is applied to the sheet.   
     
     
         2 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A machining system configured to reduce spring back following a machining operation comprising:
 a machining tool; and   a spring back control system comprising a number of force generators and a number of force loaded members coupled to the number of force generators, each force loaded member of the number of force loaded members connected to a material contact surface.   
     
     
         7 . The machining system of  claim 6 , wherein each force loaded member of the number of force loaded members is associated with a respective force generator of the number of force generators. 
     
     
         8 . The machining system of  claim 6 , wherein multiple force generators of the number of force generators are coupled to a single force loaded member of the number of force loaded members. 
     
     
         9 . The machining system of  claim 6 , wherein the machining tool is independently moveable relative to the spring back control system. 
     
     
         10 . The machining system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the number of force loaded members further comprises a linear bearing and a carriage. 
     
     
         11 . The machining system of  claim 6 , wherein each material contact surface is a pad. 
     
     
         12 . The machining system of  claim 6 , wherein the machining tool comprises a drill bit. 
     
     
         13 . A machining system configured to reduce spring back following a machining operation, the machining system comprising:
 a number of linear force generators;   a number of force loaded members coupled to the number of linear force generators and configured to apply compression force to form a region of applied compressive force; and   a machining tool independently moveable relative to the number of linear force generators.   
     
     
         14 . The machining system of  claim 13 , wherein the machining tool is independently moveable relative to the number of linear force generators in a first direction parallel to the number of linear force generators, the machining tool positioned to perform a machining operation within the region. 
     
     
         15 . The machining system of  claim 13 , wherein the number of force loaded members is each equidistant from the machining tool. 
     
     
         16 . The machining system of  claim 13 , wherein the number of force loaded members comprises a pad configured to form a working envelope for the machining tool. 
     
     
         17 . The machining system of  claim 13 , wherein the number of force loaded members comprises a number of pads. 
     
     
         18 . The machining system of  claim 13 , wherein the number of linear force generators comprises at least one of a number of springs or a number of pneumatic cylinders. 
     
     
         19 . The machining system of  claim 13 , wherein the machining tool is independently moveable in a second direction perpendicular to the number of linear force generators. 
     
     
         20 . The machining system of  claim 13 , wherein machining tool comprises a drill bit having an axis parallel to the number of linear force generators. 
     
     
         21 . A method of reducing spring back of a thin sheet during a machining operation, the method comprising:
 deflecting the thin sheet towards a support tool with a spring back control system of an end effector, the spring back control system comprising a number of force generators and a number of force loaded members coupled to the number of force generators, each force loaded member of the number of force loaded members comprising a material contact surface; and   performing the machining operation on the thin sheet using a machining tool of the end effector while the thin sheet is deflected.   
     
     
         22 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein deflecting is performed by the number of force generators, and wherein performing the machining operation comprises further deflecting the thin sheet by a machining force of the machining operation, wherein deflection from the machining force is less than deflection from a compression force applied by the number of force generators. 
     
     
         25 . The machining system of  claim 9 , wherein the machining tool is independently moveable parallel to application of compression force by the spring back control system. 
     
     
         26 . The machining system of  claim 9 , wherein each force loaded member of the number of force loaded members is configured to apply compression force to form a region of applied compressive force. 
     
     
         27 . The machining system of  claim 6 , wherein the number of force generators is configured to provide sufficient compressive force to deflect a thin sheet towards a support tool. 
     
     
         28 . The machining system of  claim 27 , wherein the number of force generators is configured to provide a deflection from the compressive force greater than a deflection from the machining force provided by the machining tool. 
     
     
         29 . The machining system of  claim 13 , wherein the number of force generators is configured to provide a deflection from the compressive force greater than a deflection from the machining force provided by the machining tool. 
     
     
         30 . The machining system of  claim 13 , wherein the machining system takes the form of an end effector.