Abstract: A joining system includes a holding fixture assembly configured to hold a fuselage skin. The stringers are temporarily attached to the fuselage skin. The joining system includes an upper beam assembly including an upper beam and a lower beam assembly. The lower beam assembly includes a lower beam and at least one lower heating element. The holding fixture assembly is coupled to the upper beam assembly. The holding fixture assembly is coupled to the lower beam assembly. The upper beam is movable relative to the lower beam to clamp the at least one of the plurality of stringers and the fuselage skin together prior to and during welding.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for splicing airframe components. One embodiment is a method for assembling an airframe of an aircraft. The method includes forming a first skin of a first circumferential section of fuselage, the first skin including a distal portion comprising a lip and a shoulder, aligning a second skin of a second circumferential section of fuselage with the shoulder such that the lip overlaps the second skin, and affixing the first skin and the second skin together via a circumferential splice.

Abstract: Systems (100) for assembling stiffened composite structures comprise a layup mandrel (102) and a network (104) of fluid lines (116) configured to be selectively and fluidically coupled to stringer bladders (118) positioned relative to the layup mandrel (102). Bladder vent plugs (300) are adjustable in length andare configured to close stringer bladders (118) except for fluid connection to the fluid lines (116).

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and methods for providing flowable material to a part-forming fixture. The apparatus comprising a tool manifold and a fixture manifold. The tool manifold comprises a tool-manifold base and a plurality of tool fittings extending through the tool-manifold base. The fixture manifold comprises a fixture-manifold base and a plurality of fixture fittings extending through the fixture-manifold base. An interface end of each one of the plurality of tool fittings is removably attachable to an interface end of a corresponding one of the plurality of fixture fittings such that, when attached, a seal is created between the tool fittings and the corresponding fixture fitting and flowable material is flowable from each one of the tool fittings into the corresponding one of the fixture fittings.

Abstract: A joining system includes a holding fixture assembly configured to hold a fuselage skin. The stringers are temporarily attached to the fuselage skin. The joining system includes an upper beam assembly including an upper beam and a lower beam assembly. The lower beam assembly includes a lower beam and at least one lower heating element. The holding fixture assembly is coupled to the upper beam assembly. The holding fixture assembly is coupled to the lower beam assembly. The upper beam is movable relative to the lower beam to clamp the at least one of the plurality of stringers and the fuselage skin together prior to and during welding.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bladder assembly for forming a part made of a fiber-reinforced polymeric material. The bladder assembly comprises a bladder comprising an interior having a hollow interior channel within the interior of the bladder. The bladder assembly also comprises an intake port fluidically coupled with the interior of the bladder and an exhaust port fluidically coupled with the interior of the bladder. The bladder assembly further comprises a pressure control device fluidically coupled with the exhaust port and configured to control a pressure drop across the interior of the bladder from the intake port to the exhaust port.

Abstract: A part transfer system includes a movable support, a plurality of arms coupled to the movable support, and an end effector coupled to each of the plurality of arms. The end effector includes a body and a plurality of dividers each coupled to the body. The plurality of dividers divides the body into a plurality of partitions. The end effector includes a plurality of vacuum ports each in fluid communication with one of the plurality of partitions. The part transfer system further includes a vacuum source in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of vacuum ports. Each of the plurality of vacuum ports is configured to draw a fluid from the plurality of partitions to establish a vacuum between the end effector and a part that is engaged with the end effector, thereby securing the part to the end effector.