F-16 Reverse Engineering & Fit Prediction

Lockheed Martin - Tactical Aircraft Systems (TAS) Fort Worth, Texas

Perform Join Prediction of Mating F-16 Fuselage Sections and Reverse Engineer Gage Based Surfaces to CAD Models
Lockheed Martin F-16 Polish Air Force flying in close formation

ATT Metrology was contracted to measure the forward and center fuselage mate areas on an F-16 Fighter Jet prior to joining the aircraft in the factory. ATT used the laser tracker data to develop NURBS surfaces using a reverse engineering software package. This same package was used to perform the “virtual fit” in the CAD environment to determine interference areas. The project validated the join prediction techniques and is slated to be incorporated into the next generation F-22 and JSF fighter programs.