Fast Assembly Tool Reasoning Based on Geometric Accessibility Analysis

Abstract

A product assembly or disassembly is completed by means of proper tools. The selection of feasible tools is an important process in planning a complete assembly or disassembly sequence. A key tooling consideration in assembly or disassembly planning is to reason the available space for a tool application during the assembly or disassembly of a product. Currently, assembly tool reasoning about space mainly depends on simulation-based or user-interactive approaches because of its computational complexity. These approaches are not proper in dealing with various what-if scenarios regarding assembly or disassembly planning in a rapid product development. They also depend on users’ expertise or experience in assembly or disassembly. This paper presents an efficient method of the geometric accessibility analysis for fast assembly tool reasoning. Techniques described in the paper are advantageous not only in the aid of generating a complete assembly or disassembly plan but also in the efficient support of such systems as computer-aided assembly planning (CAAP), design for manufacturing (DFM), design for assembly (DFA), design for disassembly (DFD), and computer-aided tool selection (CATS).Copyright © 2005 by ASME