1. F-16 Robotic Laser Coating Removal System 25 April 2017
Debbie Naguy
AFLCMC/EZP

2. Purpose
To provide an overview and status update of the F-16 Robotic Laser Coating Removal System (RLCRS)

3. F-16 Robotic Laser Coating Removal System (RLCRS)
F-16 RLCRS Overview:
A coating removal system using a 6 kW continuous wave fiber laser, mounted on a large Kuka 6-axis robotic arm and Hubtex electric forklift

4. First Production Aircraft
Obtained engineering approval to depaint F-16 aircraft, Jan 17
First production aircraft depainted Jan 17
Successfully stripped standard top coat
Validated checklists and witness coupon process, and identified and incorporated process improvements
Second production aircraft depainted Apr 17
Successfully stripped multiple layers of topcoat and primer
Mobile Robotic Systems for Full Aircraft
Digital Mapping used to control robotic movement around aircraft

5. Optimizing Laser Parameters
Optimizing laser parameters to increase strip rates and reduce production depaint times
Continue to perform testing on multiple coating stack-ups and various coating thicknesses to develop ideal coating removal protocols
Following critical parameters are locked-in to prevent substrate overheating:
Laser power
Scan speed
Spot size
Focal distance
Time delay between passes

6. Next Steps Finalizing Honeycomb-aluminum laser parameters
Testing scheduled for 8-10 May 17
Next production aircraft depaint scheduled for 1 May 17
Plan includes depaint of metallic, composite, and honeycomb surfaces
System scheduled to be turned over to production in Jun 17

7. Summary
AFLCMC/EZP committed to technology insertion to optimize weapon system sustainment
Robotics and Lasers technology for aircraft coating removal is a proven technology to benefit the sustainment centers
Finalizing optimization on the F-16 Robotic Laser Coating Removal System to optimize performance
Two production aircraft depainted successfully; three additional production runs are planned to achieve Full Operations Capability by summer