Development of reconfigurable machines

Bi, Zhuming; Lang, Sherman Y. T.; Verner, Marcel; Orban, Peter E.

doi:10.1007/s00170-007-1288-1

Cited by 122 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…The fixturing system has an unprecedented degree of autonomy and the capacity to handle a wide variety of parts, including large and flexible thin sheets. Other existing systems still require human intervention in order to perform reconfiguration, and only very few are able to support flexible parts [37][38][39][40][41]. The new system has significant advantages over state-of-the-art RFAs or pintype systems; it has the potential to be a more agile, smarter, and cheaper industrial solution.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Task planning for cooperating self-reconfigurable mobile fixtures

Kasprzak

Zlatanov

Szynkiewicz

et al. 2013

Int J Adv Manuf Technol

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The work solves the problem of task and motion planning of a self-reconfigurable fixture system. A feasible solution is a key requirement for the viability of such systems, which have raised hopes of overcoming the deficiencies that more traditional fixtures are recognized to have in the dynamic conditions of modern manufacturing, with its increasing emphasis on flexibility, adaptability, and automation. The paper proposes an application-independent approach for the generation of a time-relevant action plan for the locomotion, reconfiguration, and positioning of two or more mobile robotic fixtures. The fixture agents need to provide local support for a large workpiece during machining. The path-planning problem is converted into a constraint satisfaction problem (CSP). The proposed approach is called Triple-CSP, as it applies an incremental state search to solve three hierarchical path-planning tasks for the three components of each mobile fixture agent: a supporting head, a mobile base, and a parallel manipulator. A final time-related trajectory (time scaling of actions) for the agents' entire task execution is obtained. Thus, the planner takes into account all the relevant physical, geometrical, and time-related constraints.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Task planning for cooperating self-reconfigurable mobile fixtures

Kasprzak

Zlatanov

Szynkiewicz

et al. 2013

Int J Adv Manuf Technol

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“…Currently, the Hexapods are set manually, however an externally actuated version is currently being developed at Linköping University. Other recent approaches can be found in Refs [14,74]. Molfino et al [75] propose the use of many PKMs (a swarm) to be able to relocate support points during the machining process.…”

Section: Automatically Reconfigurable Fixturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(10a), where a group of PKM-based fixture elements provides extra support at the tool location. PKMs can be positioned more accurately than Cartesian robots and have a proven capability to provide large stiffness, and they are often applied in modern machining centres [74,76]. Another example is the Patent by Akeel [77], where automated Stewart platforms in combination with force sensors are utilised to obtain stress-free assemblies of body panels for the automotive industry.…”

Section: Automatically Reconfigurable Fixturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Research on Flexible Fixtures for Manufacturing Processes

Bakker¹,

Papastathis²,

Ratchev³

et al. 2013

MENG

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Fixtures, are used to fixate, position and support workpieces, and form a crucial tool in manufacturing. Their performance influences the manufacturing (and assembly) process of a product. Furthermore, fixturing can form a significant portion of the needed investment and total process planning time for the manufacturing system. Many fixturing concepts, as contribution to increase the flexibility of the manufacturing system, are reported in the literature. The flexible fixturing designs can be classified into the following seven categories: modular fixtures, flexible pallet systems, sensor-based fixture design, phase-change based concepts, chuck-based concepts, pin-type array fixtures and automatically reconfigurable fixtures. It is observed that the more intelligent and automated fixturing systems are designed with the demands for automation in certain industries in mind. Furthermore, different fixturing solutions suit the engineering demands for different manufacturing areas, this means that for the foreseeable future all technologies will remain current. From the self-reconfigurable fixturing techniques a new fixturing capability is emerging: in process reconfigurability for the optimal placement of clamps and supports during the whole process time. These several concepts together with some recent patents are studied here. The paper concludes with some prospective research directions in the field of flexible fixturing.

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“…Other authors have since elaborated on these characteristics [6,7]. A sixth characteristic has since been defined: 'scalability' [4,5,8]. RMS aims for a system that can respond to new market needs rapidly, economically, efficiently, and effectively.…”

Section: Introduction To the Reconfigurable Manufacturing System (Rmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…'Scalability' stems from the requirement that an RMS handle market uncertainty and fluctuations in demand, while maintaining a low cost. These key attributes allow an RMS, among other things, to produce product variants, adapt to volume changes, handle product uncertainty and complexity, adopt new technology, and shorten delivery time in changing markets -all while maintaining a low cost [3,8]. The need to handle these changes and demands is the driving force behind reconfiguration.…”

Section: Introduction To the Reconfigurable Manufacturing System (Rmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Thin, Hardware-Supported Middleware Management System for Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems

McLean

Padayachee

Bright

2015

The South African Journal of Industrial Engineering

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The reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) paradigm was introduced in response to the need for a manufacturing environment that can handle high-frequency market-driven change. Although this has resulted in much research into the implementation of such a system, there is currently a gap in the technology covering the rapid establishment of control after a reconfiguration. This gap involves the detection of the factory floor's state, and the communication link between the factory floor and the high-level software (ERP and MES). This paper proposes a thin, hardware-supported middleware management system to support the reconfiguration process and to support industrial implementation to the RMS paradigm. OPSOMMINGDie herkonfigureerbare vervaardigingstelsel paradigma is ontwikkel in reaksie op die behoefte aan 'n vervaardigingsomgewing wat hoë frekwensie, markgedrewe verandering kan hanteer. Alhoewel baie navorsing tot die implementering van so 'n stelsel gedoen is, bestaan daar steeds 'n gaping in die tegnologie tot die spoedige beheername van só 'n stelsel na 'n herkonfigurasie. Hierdie gaping behels die bepaling van die aanlegvloer se toestand en die kommunikasie tussen die aanlegvloer en die hoëvlak sagteware (soos ondernemingshulpbronbeplanning).'n Dun, hardeware ondersteunde oorbruggingsbestuursagteware om die herkonfigurasie proses te steun en om die industriële implementering van herkonfigureerbare vervaardigingstelsels te bevorder, word voorgestel.

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Development of reconfigurable machines

Cited by 122 publications

References 82 publications

Task planning for cooperating self-reconfigurable mobile fixtures

Task planning for cooperating self-reconfigurable mobile fixtures

Recent Research on Flexible Fixtures for Manufacturing Processes

A Thin, Hardware-Supported Middleware Management System for Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems

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