Method and Software for Analyzing the Assembly/Disassembly Operations of Mechanical Products

Abstract:

Enrolling in the current trends of using collaborative virtual environments and virtual reality techniques for engineering applications, the current paper presents the synthetic results of a research in which an innovative method and software application were developed for analyzing and simulating the Assembly/Disassembly (A/D) operations of mechanical products. Starting from the 3D CAD model of an assembly and using connection interface and mobility operator concepts, the application supports the designers in generating valid A/D plans by determining the interfaces between components, calculating the components mobility and identifying the functional role of components in an assembly. Thus, the developed software provides designers an automated tool for analyzing A/D operations, obtaining and simulating A/D sequences, useful in the design phase of a mechanical product, for training the operators, as well as for improving the productivity of activities such as recycling, maintenance and reusing. Moreover, the application was conceived so that, in a further step, to be integrated in an immersive environment, offering a realistic simulation in two modes of interaction: free mode and kinematically guided. Finally, in order to validate the proposed methods and concepts, the application was tested for evaluating users’ satisfaction degree.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 658)
• Pages: 638-643
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.658.638
• Online since: October 2014
• Authors: Robert Iacob*, Diana Popescu
• Keywords: Assembly/Disassembly, Connection Interface, Mobility Operator, Virtual Reality (VR)

References

[1] A. Lambert, Disassembly sequencing: A survey, International Journal of Production Research 41(16), (2003) pp.3721-3759.

DOI: 10.1080/0020754031000120078

[2] J. Dong, G. Arndt, A review of current research on disassembly sequence generation and computer aided design for disassembly, Journal of Engineering Manufacture, 217(3), 2003 pp.299-312.

DOI: 10.1243/095440503321590479

[3] T. Dong, R. Tong, L. Zhang, J. Dong, A collaborative approach to assembly sequence planning, Advanced Engineering Informatics 19 , (2005) pp.155-168.

DOI: 10.1016/j.aei.2005.05.008

[4] A. Mathew, C.S.P. Rao, A CAD system for extraction of mating features in an assembly. Assembly Automation 30(2) , (2010) pp.42-146.

DOI: 10.1108/01445151011029772

[5] R. Vigano, G. Osorio-Gomez, A computer tool to extract feasible assembly sequences from a product CAD model, in automated way, IMProVe – International conference on Innovative Methods in Product Design, Venice, Italy, (2011) pp.248-253.

[6] S.S. Smith, W.H. Chen, Rule-based recursive selective disassembly sequence planning for green design, Advanced Engineering Informatics 25, (2011) pp.77-87.

DOI: 10.1016/j.aei.2010.03.002

[7] E.S.A. Nasr, A.M. El-Tamimi, M.H. Abidi, A M. Al-Ahmari, Virtual Assembly in a semi-immersive environment, World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology journal 7, (2013) pp.02-26.

[8] G. Gonzalez-Badillo, H.I. Medellín-Castillo, T. Lim, Development of a haptic virtual reality system for assembly planning and Evaluation, Procedia Technology 7, (2013) p.265 – 272.

DOI: 10.1016/j.protcy.2013.04.033

[9] R. Iacob, D. Popescu, N. Carutasu, Development of assembly/ disassembly process simulation platform, Journal Proceedings in Manufacturing Systems 8(1), (2013) pp.15-24.

[10] D. Popescu, R. Iacob, Disassembly method based on connection interface and mobility operator concepts, International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology 69 (5-8), (2013) pp.1511-1525.

DOI: 10.1007/s00170-013-5092-9