Assembly Automation

Selke, Klaus K.W.

1992 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/eb004365

Why is Compliance Needed in Flexible Assembly Flexible assembly in a modern production environment poses very specific problems. The need for flexibility is well established and is mainly due to the desire to bring the economic advantages of mass production into a changing marketplace, where the trend goes towards smaller batches, larger product variety and faster response to the customer's expectations. This article describes only compliance, one of the many different and difficult problems which are inherent in such an environment, and the solution which the InFACT project EUREKAFAMOS EU321 has adopted.

Boddy, Cliff

1992 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/eb004366

A large subset of operations in which robotic arms have consistently failed to achieve their potential are those which require the robot to interact with the environment e.g. assembly, drilling, fettling. Such tasks require force control or active compliance to either control or limit the interactions. Some of these problems can be circumvented by clever mechanical design, e.g. appropriate chamfering to guide insertion, passive compliant devices. The remote centre compliance RCC device is the most commonly used passive compliant device. For example, an RCC device can be used to assemble a peg into a hole a problem which confounds robots in normal operation due to position uncertainties causing linear and angular misalignment by providing some sprung movement parallel to the surface into which the peg is being inserted. However, in circumstances where operation is required whilst applying desired forces and within the constraints arbitrarily varying the position and orientation of the tool, such solutions are inadequate.

Pelagagge, P.M; Cardarelli, G.; Palumbo, M.

1992 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/eb004367

This article presents a study on assembly automation in small subcontracting enterprises. In this scenario the evaluated production volumes of each product limit the competitiveness of flexible assembly systems. At the same time the uncertainty of the economic life of the product causes high risk factors in the use of assembly transfer lines. The proposed solution is characterized by the employment of an asynchronous line with singlepurpose automatic stations and manual stations.

Hollingum, Jack

1992 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/eb004368

Once every two years Germany's vast Hanover Fair gives additional space to companies in the fields of assembly, handling and industrial robotics, and this year two halls and part of a third out of a total of about 20 were given over to this sector of industry. The generally poor level of business throughout Europe was reflected at the exhibition, and it could not be said that products and services on offer were exciting, though a number of companies had new or updated products.

1992 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/eb004369

German domestic appliance manufacturer Miele has decided to standardize on Adept robots for assembly applications at its plant in Bielefeld. Four of the Californian robot company's machines are already employed in the plant, assembling different elements of vacuum cleaners and dishwashers.

Matanle, Ivor

1992 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/eb004370

Two sophisticated production control systems installed at the Sony television tube manufacturing plant in Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, have achieved major improvements in production monitoring and control. Designed by the Sony industrial engineering department in close collaboration with the IMO systems design group, both production control systems utilize fully the programming versatility and easy interfacing of programmable controllers and networking software.

Cottrill, Alan

1992 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/eb004371

The demand today for more flexibility in manufacturing systems is being driven by our automotive customers' production schedules. No longer manufacturing mass volumes of automobiles, these companies require more flexibility to respond quickly to change. Several factors are involved auto companies are entering into more niche markets, models have a shorter product life and the customer wants to lower the capital investment required for changeover or introduction of a new product.

Yokota, K.; Brough, D.R.

1992 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/eb004372

The everincreasing demand for rationalization of manufacturing activities requires closer cooperation and integration between design and production planning. Since the impact on the overall cost of production of designing a product for ease of assembly was realized, feedback from assembly planning to the design process has become important for improving the design. Traditionally, planning for assembly takes place after the design of the product has been completed. Often it proves necessary to modify a design, because some aspect is not particularly convenient or efficient under the available assembly facilities. However, considerable time and cost savings can be made by making assemblyplanning information available to design engineers, so that they can take account of assembly factors when designing a product.