Reconfigurable machine tool programming- a new approach (original) (raw)
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Reconfigurable robotic machining system controlled and programmed in a machine tool manner
The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2010
Industrial robots represent a promising costeffective and flexible alternative for some machining applications. This paper describes the concept of reconfigurable robot multi-axis machining systems for machining the complex parts of light materials with lower tolerances having freeform surfaces. For the basic configuration of a five-axis robotic machining system, the robot modeling approach is shown in detail as well as the prototype of developed control system with programming in G-code. The experimental robotic machining system has been verified by successful machining of several test work pieces.
Reconfigurable machine tools: a perspective
Life Cycle Reliability and Safety Engineering, 2019
Short life cycle of the products, large product variants and unanticipated changes in customer demand in a dynamic social context pose a significant challenge for design of an appropriate manufacturing system. Reconfigurable machine tool, which is the foundation block for reconfigurable manufacturing system is envisaged as a solution that caters to the current market forces. This paper discusses the reconfiguration mechanisms, which enable transformation of conventional machine tools, such as, drilling, lathe and milling machines into reconfigurable machines that will achieve the objectives. It is expected that, this work will help designers and practicing engineers by making them aware of the reconfiguration mechanisms, which have become a necessity for the very survival of the manufacturing sector by lowering the overall capital costs and, therefore, the per unit fixed costs.
Technique for synthetic modeling of the hardware architecture in machining system reconfiguration
A technique for synthetic modeling of the hardware architecture for reconfigurable machine tools (RMTs) is proposed. The aim is the verification of machine process and control. The virtual environment proposed allows to simulate RMT working in order to generate a set of cinematically viable reconfigurable machine tools that meet the given design specifications. Moreover the software also builds the layer for communication between modules controllers. The technique proposed in this paper embodied by the new RMT machining system reconfiguration software is presented. This technique allows for the simplification of RMT system development and enhances development ability.
CIRP Annals - Manufacturing Technology, 2001
The uniqueness of Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems (RMSs) is that the structure of the system as well as of its machines and controls can be rapidly changed in response to market changes (demand and products). A major component of RMSs is the reconfigurable machine tool (RMT). By contrast to conventional CNCs that are general-purpose machines, RMTs are designed for a specific, customized range of operation requirements and may be cost-effectively converted when the requirements change. In this paper, systematic design tools that have been recently developed for RMTs are reviewed, and three examples are provided to compare RMTs to traditional types of machine tools.
Modular Reconfigurable Machine Tools: Design, Control and Evaluation
The South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 2009
The reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) paradigm encapsulates methodologies that enable manufacturing systems to cope effectively with market and product changes. This research presents the design and evaluation of modular reconfigurable machine (MRM) tools as a novel machining solution within the scope of RMS. Mechanical and control designs are presented, outlining the development of this novel machining system. The property of hardware modularity displayed by MRMs enables an adjustment of system functionality and the synergistic redistribution of system resources between production streams, thus facilitating inter-process capacity scaling. Scalable production capacity and adjustable system functionality are the key objectives of reconfigurable manufacturing.
Optimal feedrate scheduling for a reconfigurable lathe
This paper presents a virtual machining algorithm that optimizes federate scheduling aiming to improve the efficiency of cutting process. The manufacturing machine considered is a reconfigurable machine, configured as lathe with a specific architecture. A geometric searching procedure is proposed to find the parameter values corresponding to cutter locations along tool path during generation of the final surface.
Arch-type reconfigurable machine tool
2008
The arch-type reconfigurable machine tool (RMT) is a full-scale reconfigurable machine tool, designed to provide customised flexibility in milling and drilling operations for a part family, i.e. V6 and V8 engine cylinder heads. The designed machine not only has to achieve the required kinematic task, but should also exhibit similar dynamic characteristic across all members of the part family to ensure specified productivity and quality levels in the manufacturing environment. This chapter begins with a brief introduction to reconfigurable manufacturing systems and reconfigurable machine tools, and later delves into the various RMT design considerations e.g. part family, machine specifications, workspace, and accuracy. The detailed design and construction of the arch-type RMT is described. This section also describes the research activities carried in the area of RMT design. The later part of this chapter discusses the variations in dynamic performance of the arch-type RMT across the various reconfiguration positions. The dynamic performance of the arch-type RMT is measured in terms of frequency response functions and stability lobe diagrams. It is observed, that for the arch-type RMT, the dynamic characteristics are similar across the part family, because the dominant frequency where chatter occurs comes from the tool-tool holder-spindle assembly. The machine dynamics is similar to many other industrial machines used for milling and drilling operations on similar sized workpiece, which are not designed to be reconfigurable. Thus, the arch-type RMT successfully demonstrates the concept of reconfiguration and its application in the machine tool industry.
A conceptual development of reconfigurable drill machine tool (RDMT)
SN Applied Sciences
Reconfigurable machine tools are emerging as new generation machine tools for dealing with the fluctuating market scenario and immense competition between original equipment manufacturers. New approaches, mechanism and designs principles are required for the development of these machine tools in manufacturing systems. A lot of research work has been done in reconfigurable machine tool (i.e. lathe, milling, shaper, NC, CNC etc.) but still less work has been conducted to develop reconfigurable drilling machine. This paper presents a modular approach to develop Reconfigurable Drilling Machine Tool, which will allow the machine not only to reconfigure the modules in a certain way for performing a specific task but also to develop a new type of machine which can incorporate all the features of reconfiguration for the production of multiple part families on a single platform. A module library, which includes basic and auxiliary modules, is implemented on this machine tool to explain the core features (i.e. scalability, modularity, convertibility and flexibility). Probably, this proposed design contributes a theoretical approach for the reconfiguration features of drilling machine in Reconfigurable Manufacturing System and this proposed design is illustrated through a figure, which is developed on design software (i.e. solid works platform).
Method for synthetic modeling of the reconfigurable machine tools using genetic algorithms
This paper presents a method of synthetic modeling which can be applied by the manufacturing companies in order to rapidly evaluate the production costs, under the technical restrictions imposed by the client requests. Using the proposed approach the company can make an appropriate price quotation for its products and thus establish its profit margin. In the case of manufacturing processes, the key idea is to online model, the costs occurring during the machining and consumption of time both in relation to the chips flow. After this, using the genetic algorithms technique the optimal cutting conditions are determined as well as the minimum cost for the manufacturing task completion under the restrictions imposed by the technical specifications and by the negotiation process. The minimum cost is considered to be a reference against which the price quotation is made in accordance with the commercial policy of the company. Using the proposed approach the company can set a price for a p...
Reconfigurable Micro-Machine Tool Design for Desktop Machining Micro-factories
Nowadays, the micro-factory concept of downsizing production systems is essential to manufacturing small products in sustainable growth. Concerning this, this paper presents the developments accomplished during the recent years at Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico) introducing new findings related to the design of reconfigurable micro-machine tools for micro-factories. It shows the framework related to the conceptualization of micro-factories for manufacturing system layouts based-on reconfigurable micro-machine tools, identifying the basic steps. The methodology for designing reconfigurable micro-machine tools is exposed, and a reconfigurable first-generation CNC micro-machine tool for micro-factories, is designed and tested, using the Universal Numerical Control concept.