Gluing and

wiping head
Limit switch
Limit switch

Motor
controller

Pneumatic
glue gun

Vacuum
workholding

Wipe
mounting

Piece
alignment jig

Excess glue
catch trays

Control box

For this project sponsored by the Boeing Interiors Responsibility Center, our group was tasked with
automating the cleaning and gluing process for plastic trim pieces on overhead stow bins for the Boeing
737. Boeing wished to improve the consistency of this process because they had found cases in the field
where these trim pieces had detached. Our machine had to wipe the inside of the trim with isopropyl
alcohol and apply a consistent bead of two-part epoxy. However, this had to remain as similar to the
approved manual process as possible to going through lengthy new approvals. We found that makeup
remover sponges were the best for cleaning, and used a pneumatic glue gun mounted to a linear actuator to
apply the expoxy. We used chocolate syrup to simulate the glue during testing because we found it had the
most similar viscosity to that of the epoxy.

Glue Failure

Overhead bin with trim missing

Trim piece

Manual process: hand wiped with gauze, hand pumped glue gun

For automation, we originally experimented with bulk dispensing instead of cartridges. This turned
out to be too complex to be able to finish within our 9 week timeframe, but it was our final
recommendation as a more efficient solution for automation.

Dispensing glue from pressurized

reservoir

Dispensing from a 5 gallon bucket by displacement

with a plunger (sealed using a bicycle tire)

Prototyping cleaning methods:

Pneumatic glue dispensing:

Servo to actuate trigger

Structure and workholding:

Vacuum system with suction cups to hold workpiece

Final integration:

Consistent bead produced