Abstract: A device for holding a metal sheet on a rim of a mold tool, the rim surrounding a female mold in the mold tool. The device comprises: a flexible conduit comprising a fluid; a pressure applicator configured to provide a pressure to the fluid in the flexible conduit; a contact surface configured to contact the metal sheet opposite to the rim. The flexible conduit is configured to transmit the pressure in the fluid to the contact surface such that the contact surface provides a holding force to the metal sheet on the rim of the mold tool, wherein the holding force is equal on each position of the contact surface.

Abstract: A movable joining device for connecting structural components of an aircraft, with joining means moveably arranged on a guiding device situated on the outside of the structural components so as to fixedly connect joining edges of the structural components positioned adjacent to each other, wherein the joining means includes a welding unit that can move on the rail-like guiding device, and is equipped with a special so-called bobbin tool as a tool for friction stir welding.

Abstract: A joining apparatus for joining together structural components of an aircraft, includes positioning means for holding the structural components to be joined in a defined desired position, in which the structural components can be fixedly joined together by means of a joining device that can be moved relative to the structural components by way of guiding means, wherein the positioning means encompass a formative frame structure that is detachably secured to the structural components to be connected along the joining edges outside in the edge area, and serves as a guiding means for the joining device movably secured hereupon.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a module for an airframe or fuselage structure of an aircraft or spacecraft includes positioning a first member adjacent to a second member at an assembly station; welding the first member to the second member at the assembly station to produce a module having a welded joint between the first and second members; and peening at least one of the first member, the second member, and the welded joint at the assembly station to compensate for or to correct distortion caused by the welding.