Automation and Robotics

In this book for the optimisation of assembly conveyor lines we are dealing with series part production featured by a medium complexity degree and a medium number of individual components and assembly technique alternatives. Modern production techniques for medium to large series products or mass production usually involve assembly conveyor lines. They still use hand labour more or less automated. The aim is to have monotonous and similar in type operations or such causing fatigue, stress and production traumas, gradually replaced by automated assembly cycles, means and techniques. This usually widely involves industrial robots and handlers. Higher productivity, lower cost and higher quality of assembled products are usually required.

Recently, latest assembly techniques for simpler or more complicated products in engineering, device manufacturing and electronics involve computer-aided automated assembly means in Flexible Automated Production Lines or other types of automated conveyor lines, which provide full automation and human labour replacement. Assembly alternatives involving automation, and mechanisation, programmable and adaptive control have been analyzed in Chapters 3-5. Practically, this means no large investment in the modernisation and expansion of the production capacity and the product’s nomenclature.

1. Automation & robotics: an optimized loudspeaker assembly for a mechanized serial production line
   1. Introduction
   2. Developing a dolly removal strategy
   3. General assembly strategy
   4. Feeder design
   5. Assembly cell design
   6. References
2. Design of speakers production: assembly line of capacity 180,000/month, 15 product variants
   1. Introduction
   2. Strategy for the “dolly” removal
   3. General strategy
   4. Feeder design
   5. Evaluation of the assembly unit
   6. References
3. Strategic approaches to resource husbandry and recovery: the superwash combo case study
   1. Introduction
   2. The team’s work
   3. The performers
   4. Quality
   5. Market & production line
   6. Environmental impact
   7. Machines
   8. Process technology & management
   9. Raw materials & component parts
   10. Conclusions
   11. References
4. Software engineering and data communications: an automatic laminating plant
   1. Enviromental model
   2. Behavioural model
   3. References
5. Robot grip mechanism: control loop design considerations
   1. Introduction
   2. Open loop system
   3. Closed loop control system
   4. Other control loop design considerations
   5. Conlcusion
   6. References