Automatic Line-Heating Process for Forming the Double-Curved Shell Plates

An automatic line-heating process for the double-curved shell plates is introduced. This process contains four subprocesses: calculating the heating information based on shell development and analysis of primary technological parameters, which is named as prediction system of heating information; heating the plate by an automated line-heating machine according to the calculated heating information; measuring and inspecting the plate surface to determine whether it matches the designed surface; and calculating the reheating information for the deformed plate and reheating the plate automatically until the designed shape is achieved. Therefore, an iterative loop system of an automated line-heating process can be developed based on the integration of these four components.