Computer Assisted Geometric Analysis of Components for Automatic Assembly

Abstract

Assembly cost is one of the major contributing factors in the total manufacturing cost equation. It has been estimated, particularly in the mechanical and electrical industries, that assembly costs can account for over 50 per cent of the overall manufacturing costs. Discussed is the development of a low‐cost PC‐based computer assisted tool, used to analyse the component geometric features from an engineering drawing for automatic assembly. A description of the algorithms used to evaluate the overall geometric dimensions, its alpha and beta symmetries from a DXF file will also be made. Goes on to compare the results between the simulated runs and the actual ones of various complex 2‐D and 21/2‐D components and this has been found to be satisfactory. Quicker estimates of the component handling times for assembly can therefore be achieved.

Citation

Lye, S. and Ong, N. (1993), "Computer Assisted Geometric Analysis of Components for Automatic Assembly", Integrated Manufacturing Systems, Vol. 4 No. 2, pp. 4-14. https://doi.org/10.1108/09576069310037446