Principles for Integrating Part Setup Planning and Workholding in Automated Manufacturing

这项研究的广泛主题是为小批量制造行业创造智能、灵巧、自给自足的机床。在之前国家科学基金的支持下，首席研究员开发了一个专家系统，在三轴计算机数控(CNC)铣床上规划矩形零件在平行虎钳上的安装过程。同时，对夹紧和夹紧方法进行了系统的研究，研制了自动夹紧装置并投入使用。具体工作包括：(1)扩大专家系统规划软件，以涵盖需要更多设置步骤的更复杂的零件形状，使用脚趾夹和可能使用更复杂的夹具，(2)将这种专家系统方法与更坚实的力学方法相结合，以稳定夹具，随着零件的复杂性增加，这种方法将发挥更大的作用，而不是将简单的矩形零件固定在平行的虎钳中，以及(3)可以处理更复杂零件类型的原型夹具的构造。在本研究中，集成了机床规划和夹紧功能的软件被称为统一加工规划器，将要开发的可编程硬件被称为柔性夹紧系统。

The broad theme of this research is the creation of intelligent, dexterous, self-sustaining machine tools for the small-batch manufacturing industry. With previous National Science Foundation support, the Principal Investigator has developed an expert system that plans the setup processes for rectangular-type parts in a parallel-sided vise on a three-axis Computer Numerical Control (CNC) milling machine. At the same time, clamping and fixturing methods have been systematically studied and an automated fixturing device has been made and used. The specific work consists of: (1) broadening the expert system planning software to encompass more complex part shapes that will require more setup steps, the use of toe-clamps and the possible use of more complex fixtures, (2) combining this expert system approach with a more solid mechanics approach to stable fixturing that will come more into play as our parts increase in complexity away from the simple rectangular parts held in a parallel-sided vise, and (3) the construction of prototype fixtures that can handle more complex part types. In this research, the software that integrates the machine tool planning and clamping functions is referred to as the Unified Machining Planner; the programmable hardware that will be developed is referred to as the Flexible Clamping System.