Abstract: A self-normalizing contour surface drilling apparatus drills holes into contour surfaces with the drill bit of the apparatus oriented normally to the contour surface. The apparatus first determines a location of a hole to be drilled and the orientation of the drill bit relative to the surface at the hole location, and adjusts the position of the drill bit so that the drill bit is positioned normally to the hole location. The apparatus then drills the hole at the location, and then repeats the process seeking out the next location for a drilled hole.

Abstract: An adjustable drill microstop apparatus is employed with a drill and a drill bit to limit the depth of a hole drilled into an object surface by the drill bit. The apparatus has a housing and a nose piece that is mounted for reciprocating axial movement in accordance with a plurality of user selectable depths of cut. The nose piece projects from one end of the housing and is positioned adjacent the object surface to receive the drilled hole. The nose piece has an opening into which the drill bit is inserted, and an engagement surface that engages with the object surface during the drilling operation. During the drilling operation, the drill pushes the nose piece into the housing as the drill bit performs the drilling operation. A pre-selected distance that the nose piece reciprocates in the housing limits the depth of the hole drilled by the drill bit into the object surface.

Abstract: A method for producing a composite structural beam, particularly a sine wave beam, is disclosed utilizing as an essential feature, the bonding of the junctures of the sine wave web to the opposite flange areas of the beam with a fibrous braided material. The braiding is carried out during assembly of the composite web and composite flange components, prior to curing the components. In one embodiment the braided material extends along the entire height of the web, as well as along the flange areas, and is bonded thereto. In another embodiment the braided material does not extend along the entire height of the web, but only along the opposite edge portions of the web adjacent the junctures thereof with the flanges, the central portion of the web having no braided material applied thereto.