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Bombardier faced new manufacturing process challenges drilling and fastening CSeries* aircraft panels with multi-material stacks of composite (CFRP), titanium and aluminum in which Gemcor responded with a unique, flexible CNC Drivmatic® automatic fastening system, now in production at Bombardier. This joint technical paper is presented by Bombardier, expounding on manufacturing process challenges with the C Series aircraft design requirements and Gemcor presenting a unique solution to automatically fasten CFRP aft fuselage panels and aluminum lithium (Al Li) cockpit panels with the same CNC Drivmatic® system. After installation and preliminary acceptance at Bombardier, the CNC system was further enhanced to automatically fasten the carbon fiber pressure bulkhead dome assembly.

Bombardier Canadair was the first airframe manufacturer to take advantage of Gemcor's “state of the art” All Electric Rotary Head fastening system. Due to the success of the first 2 systems installed at Canadair, they have purchased 2 additional for a total of 4 systems in use. See figure 1. This paper will act as a case study on how Canadair has taken advantage of the very fast cycle times combined with greater flexibility and quicker set-up times than on existing hydraulic machines. Significant increase in fastener installation process quality indicates this is now the standard that all automatic fastening machines shall be measured against.