Development of a Pneumatic Clamping System with Position and Force Control Machining

Computer-Aided Design, 2018

The development of computer aided fixture design has already encountered numerous mathematical and technical challenges having hampered realization of automated design of fixturing system consisting of locating and clamping systems. This is more critical for workpieces of freeform surfaces compared with those of polyhedral geometry. In the present study, the mathematical foundation of clamping system design has been developed by using the concept of screw theory and the minimum norm principle. An algorithm has been proposed to realize the developed theory. In this algorithm, three criteria have been taken into consideration to be respected when designing the clamping system. These are minimum number of clamps, maximum contrariety of clamping force components with respect to the twists tending to break contact between the workpiece and the locators, and maintenance of workpiece's static stability under different wrenches. The suggested theory and algorithm have been incorporated into a platform already developed by the authors in Python-OCC for computer aided fixture design. The fixturing of three different machining workpieces have been examined for evaluating the capabilities of the suggested theory and algorithm. These workpieces had freeform surfaces which were defined by NURBS formulation.

2018

Milling machine vise is one of the common clamping device used in the industry and for learning purposes. The purpose of milling vise is to reduce working time by permitting snappy set-up. It also functions as a supporter during the machining process and help to increase accuracy of the completed parts. However, limited surface of the work-piece can be cut in only one single clamping. This requires the operator to load and unload the clamping vise repeatedly. Obviously, the process is not effective and efficient. In this project, the design of the clamping is presented for flexible positioning of the workpiece during the machining process. This product will allow the manufacturer reduce their setup time and manual inspection. Portable Surface Roughness Tester, SJ-401 is used to evaluate the surface roughness of the work-piece. Delrin and aluminium are used as the work-piece.

Digital Manufacturing Technology

A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is an integral part of a smart factory of Industry 4.0 in which every machine is interconnected and works autonomously. Robots are in the process of replacing humans in every industrial sector. As the cyber-physical system (CPS) and artificial intelligence (AI) are advancing, the manufacturing industry is getting more dependent on computers than human brains. This modernization has boosted production with high quality and accuracy and shifted from classic production to smart manufacturing systems. However, workpiece handling for such an automated production system is a challenge and needs to be addressed with the best possible solution. Conventional clamping systems are designed for manual work and are not suitable for highly automated production lines. Researchers and engineers are trying to find the most economical solution for loading/unloading and transportation of workpieces from a warehouse to a machine shop for machining operations and ba...

2003

This paper presents the methodology for automatic configuration of machining fixture for prismatic and non prismatic parts based on screw theory and kinematic analysis. The necessary and sufficient conditions for deterministic positions of the workpiece in 3-2-1 location is first identified and then used to synthesize the locator scheme. The methodology takes into account forces and moments during all time and ensure the clamping stability and positive reaction forces on locators. The mixed integer linear programming techniques are used to formulate the deterministic positioning. The number and position synthesis of the clamps is then made by mathematical formulation of the fixture reasoning forces. With input as 3-D drawing of the workpiece, the output is position of locators and clamps with respect to work origin.

2023

Robotics and automation have significantly transformed CNC machining operations, enhancing productivity, precision, and efficiency. Robots are employed to load and unload raw materials, workpieces, and finished parts onto CNC machines. They can efficiently handle heavy and bulky components, reducing the demand of manual labor and minimizing the risk of injuries. Robots can also be used in CNC machine tools to perform tasks such as automatic tool changing system, part inspection, and workpiece positioning. Automation technologies, including in-line inspection systems and non-destructive testing methods, can be integrated into CNC machining cells to enhance accuracy and reduce scrap and rework in machining operations. These systems collect real-time data on process parameters and machine tool performance to predict maintenance, optimize machining parameters, and improve overall efficiency. In the study, applications of robotics and automation in modification of CNC machine tools are reviewed and discussed. Different applications of robotics and automations in CNC machine tools such as automated material handling, automatic tool changing, robotic work cells, adaptive machining, machine tending, quality inspection, data monitoring and analysis and production line integration are discussed. Thus, by analyzing recent achievements in published papers, new ideas and concepts of future research works are suggested. As a result, accuracy as well as productivity in process of part production can be enhanced by applying the robotics and automation in CNC machining operations.

Commercial and industrial pick and place systems are now in widespread use performing jobs more cheaply or with greater accuracy and reliability than humans. They are also employed for jobs which are too dirty, dangerous or dull to be suitable for humans. Pick and Place Systems are widely used in manufacturing, assembly and packing, transport, earth and space exploration, surgery, weaponry, laboratory research, and mass production of consumer and industrial goods. Today, In Machining Industry Pick and Place from CNC Machining is very boring and repetitive work on the other hand in this competitive world, the cost of six axis manipulator (Robot) is very costly from application point of view. So each customer wants to develop the system which is low in initial cost as well as running cost.

Journal of Applied Mechanical Engineering, 2017

In this article, vacuum pressure for holding thin walled cylindrical object in vacuum clamping system on a computer numerical control machine (CNC) is studied. In this work, thin walled cylindrical object in vacuum clamping system is designed and different parameters for the vacuum clamping system are calculated. CNC rolling and flow farming machines are being employed for the thin wall and complicated objects. It is very challenging to make various thickness thin walled objects at high precision with help of jig and fixture at large scale. A lot of time is consumed for non-operational activities and skilled operator is required. In this work, this problem is resolved by replacing the machines built with 3-jaws hydraulic chucks with traditional made flexible clamping system. It would increase production rate and accuracy of object as compared to other conventional manufacturing processes. Designing imprecision may lead to process tolerance that caused to enhance manufacturing expenditure. In this work, optimum cutting parameters: feed rate, surface roughness and depth of cut of vacuum clamping system are deliberated. The main focus of this research is to design alternate clamping system for holding thin walled work piece with variable thickness and to save time, men power and raw material.

Electronics

The subject matter of the above paper presents part of the research carried out as part of the robotization of the manufacturing processes of aircraft engine components. The paper concerns robotic deburring of the V2500 diffuser’s sharp edges. The diffuser is a precision casting characterized by a slight variation in the geometry of the workpiece depending on the accuracy of the casting molds and the phenomenon of shrinkage during solidification. Due to the small degree of deburring and thus low cutting forces, robotic machining with the FDB150 tool was used. This tool is characterized by compliance with adjustable force, which enables machining of workpieces with a randomly changing shape. The authors of the paper propose a procedure for carrying out work allowing for the selection of suboptimal process parameters. In the analyzed case, these parameters are the speed of movement of the characteristic point of the tool (TCP) and the tool/workpiece contact force. The proposed procedu...

EAI Endorsed Transactions on Industrial Networks and Intelligent Systems

In modern manufacturing engineering, a major challenge is the contradiction between the need to reduce the time required to design and manufacture the products and the increasing complexity of product design. Today's market requires more varieties of products, and consequently the equipment and processes should be more flexible. Fixtures play an essential role in production of high-quality and competitive products in multiproduct manufacturing. The paper describes the ways of increasing of machining efficiency of parts. The principally new constructions of functional modules of modular adjustable fixtures for locating and clamping of workpieces are introduced. Use of the proposed fixtures with the possibility of automatized adjustment ensures the spreading of technological capabilities of CNC metal-cutting equipment, decreasing of preparatory time and setup time, and therefore, assists improving of the efficiency of production planning.

Analele Universităţii "Eftimie Murgu" Reşiţa: Fascicola I, Inginerie, 2019

The paper presents the manner of determination of forces that act on a workpiece grasped by a pneumatically driven robotic gripper. The starting point consists of experimental determination of the pushing force necessary to move the workpiece held between the gripper's fingers. Then, by using theoretical relations, the friction force between the workpiece and the fingers, and the prehension force (also called gripping force) are computed, for different values of the pneumatic driving system pressure.