Design and Analysis of Mechanical Properties of Simple Cloud-Based Assembly Line Robots

Abstract

Industrial robots have been extensively used in factory shop floors to do repetitive, tedious and dangerous operations such as assembly, painting, packing and welding. To further widen the functional capabilities, the existing pre-programmed robots are integrated with networking concepts to cultivate the networked robotics culture. This study provides an insight on design of a simple automated robotic assembly line, which serves the purpose of screwing bolts to the workpiece incoming through the assembly line. This finds its application in an assembly line of any production industry, where difficulty is faced by line workers in repeatedly joining parts using bolts and nuts. The assembly line is designed to consist of two robots—a 4-DoF SCARA type robot and a 5-DoF pick and place robot. The kinematic model and study for both the robots were performed, and 3D CAD models of both the robots were made and assembled. Analysis of various mechanical properties of both the robots such as stress, strain, displacement and buckling load are performed to ensure nominal operations. The assembly line is made to virtually show how the robots will work in tandem to achieve the intended purpose. Technological advancement of cloud computing can be integrated to the assembly line for improved performance parameters.