The Distributed Automated Cutting System project (DACS)

开发区和城镇中心的铺路工程通常持续数月至数年，对当地企业和公众造成干扰。用圆锯切割板材是嘈杂和危险的，因为刀片可能会破碎并影响公共环境。它还产生大量的废水/泥浆。操作员可能遭受手动操作伤害和与连续使用振动设备相关的伤害。当地企业在铺路项目中看到客流量减少，可能会失去业务，而议会往往被迫降低费率并支付赔偿金。将切割作业转移到工地外对所有利益相关者都有重大好处。分布式自动切割系统（DACS）将在工厂环境中提供专用的铺路板机器人切割单元，并将在24/36小时的周转时间内生产定制的铺路板，最大限度地减少现场中断。主要目标是：* 将铺路生产率提高40-50%，将整体基础设施项目时间缩短7%;* 改善工地及周边地区的安全;* 将操作员附近的切割噪音从105分贝（典型锯）至85 dB * 防止操作员接触由使用振动机械引起的手臂振动综合症和腕管综合症;* 减少浪费，从10%的石材订单减少到3%，相当于700平方米，280个托盘或16个铰接式卡车负载的典型零售合同;* 在24-36小时内交付切割成型的石材。

Paving works in developments and town-centres typically last from several months to a few years and are disruptive to local businesses and the general public. Cutting slabs with circular saws is noisy and dangerous, as blades can shatter and impinge on the public environment. It also produces a significant amount of waste-water/slurry. Operators can suffer manual handling injuries and injuries linked to continuous use of vibrating equipment. Local businesses see a reduction in footfall during paving projects and can lose business, whilst councils are often forced to reduce rates and pay compensation. Moving the cutting operations off-site would be of significant benefit to all stakeholders.The distributed, automated cutting system (DACS) will deliver a dedicated paving slab robotic cutting cell within a factory environment and will produce bespoke slabs within a 24/36-hour turnaround time, minimising on-site disruption.Key objectives are:* Improving paving productivity by 40-50% which will reduce the overall infrastructure project time by 7%;* Improving safety of the site and surrounding areas;* Reducing cutting noise near operators from 105db (typical saw) to 85 dB (safe limit) and removing such noise from the public sphere entirely;* Preventing operator exposure to hand-arm vibration syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome caused by use of vibrating machinery;* Reducing waste from 10% of stone ordered to 3%, equivalent to 700 sqm, 280 pallets or 16 articulated lorry-loads for a typical retail contract;* Delivering cut-to-shape stone within 24-36 hours.