A framework for planning a reconfigurable assembly system for press brake production

Abstract

This article presents the design of a framework for the development of a reconfigurable assembly system (RAS) to facilitate the assembly of press brakes varieties. A consideration of press brake varieties is achieved by examining the parts taxonomy of press brakes from which a framework for assembly process plan is developed that considers all the types of press brakes identified from the classification. Also, a layout for the RAS is developed by considering a prototype of the major enabling equipment of the system which is a reconfigurable assembly fixture (RAF). The development of the assembly process plan and layout of the RAS enabled the design of a reconfiguration model for operation in the RAS. The designed assembly framework will provide: rapid and physical reconfiguration of the RAF in the RAS; generation of assembly sequence for press brake varieties; and allocation of assembly operations to assembly work cells in the system. [Submitted 27 May 2020; Accepted 3 December 2020]